Search for four fishermen continues

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Four fishermen who were declared missing since they ventured into the South China Sea off the cost of Subic, Zambales last March 23 were reportedly spotted in their fishing boat yesterday off Palawan.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Lt. Roman Balilo identified the fishermen as Pedro Isidro, 23; Roland Mercado, 25; Zalday Tapatani, 49; and Jimmy Franco, 27; all of Subic. They were said to be on board MV Anita-Emelyn owned by one Zaldy Chua Castillo.

Balilo said the fishermen’s boat apparently ran out of fuel. Using their radio transceivers, the fishermen were able to establish contact with Castillo, but their battery went dead.

Balilo said the PCG has been using a PT Orion aircraft and some motorboats for the search operations, which so far have yielded no clues as to where the fishermen could have possibly drifted.

But he said Castillo reported yesterday that he was able to get a radio message from someone named Tata Pedro in Palawan that the fishermen were spotted in the area.

As of late yesterday, however, Balilo said the PCG search teams combing the waters off Palawan have not spotted the missing fishermen.