5 Pinoy fishers saved by Viets arrive home

MANILA, Philippines –  Five Filipino fishermen who were reported missing in the China Sea last Jan. 30 and subsequently rescued by Vietnamese fishermen arrived in the country yesterday.

The five Filipino fishermen were rescued seven days after their boat had “floated” some 300 nautical miles off Vietnam’s Central Binh Dinh province.

The five fishermen – boat captain Regino Suico, Naptalie Surbano, Remy Joy Jiray, Alfred Mangubat and Diego Abano, all from Subic, Zambales – were welcomed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by officials of the Philippine Coast Guard and their relatives.

“After seven days, finally we saw a big fishing vessel coming close. Our captain instructed us to climb. We left our fishing boat because it was being destroyed by the strong waves,” Surbano recounted in Filipino.

“While on board the vessel, the Vietnamese gave us first aid, including clothing and new underwear,” he added.

The group was later brought to Vietnamese Coast Guard in Phu Yen province where they contacted Philippine embassy officials led by Ambassador Jeril Santos who promptly provided assistance to them.