7 missing fishermen rescued off Ilocos

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines  – After drifting for nine days, seven fishermen from Bolinao, Pangasinan who went missing at the height of Tropical Depression Kabayan were rescued off IIocos Norte on Saturday.

The fishermen arrived at past noon yesterday in San Fernando City, La Union and were taken to a hospital for checkup.

Capt. Albert Mogol, chief of the Philippine Navy Task Force 40, said one of the fishermen was weak and was transferred to a stretcher.

Jose Ronnie Bagor, 44, captain of F/B Double, said they drifted for nine days and ate grass, small fish and sugar, which they salvaged from their boat, in order to survive.

Bagor said they drank urine and seawater.

Aside from Bagor, the other survivors were Ronnie Boy Maratas, 23; Rowel Bagor, 38; Joey Barrientos, 41; Ricardo Cas, 23; Nickson Bagor, 18, and Mar Espira, 26.

Bagor said they sailed on Sept. 29 and the weather became stormy on Oct. 2.

He said their boat developed engine trouble.

The fishermen were rescued by the crewmembers of commercial vessel M/V Kavalaseas in the waters off Currimao.

Lt. Archie Adanza of the Naval Task Force 40 said an aerial search team of the Philippine Navy Islander (PNI) first spotted the fishermen some 73 nautical miles west of Currimao.

“The PNI rescue team saw the Kavalaseas and informed its crew to rescue the fishermen,” Adanza said.

Melchito Castro, director of the Office of Civil Defense-Region 1, said the seven fishermen were among 13 others who were reported missing during the storm. – With Vic Alhambra