3 Cagayan fishermen rescued by Taiwanese vessel

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya ,Philippines  – Three fishermen reported missing since Sept. 7 were rescued by a Taiwanese fishing vessel along the Bashi Channel over the weekend.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Lt. Com. Algier Ricafrente said in a statement that the three Filipino fishermen, Gerry Tapuro, Ferdinand Cusit and Teodoro Abuyuan, all residents of Barangay Taggat, Claveria, Cagayan are now in Taiwan and expected to be turned over to the Taiwan Coast Guard.

The Taiwanese fishing vessel CT3-4708, was supposed to drop the three Filipinos to the nearest shoreline but the captain decided to return to their port in Taiwan because of the heavy waves and strong winds and they were already low on fuel.

Senior Superintendent Mao Aplasca, Cagayan police director, said the fishermen were reportedly already nearing the Claveria coast when they were pushed back by strong waves and heavy fog.

A sea-based and aerial search was immediately launched following reports of their disappearance, Aplasca said.

Last Sunday, Bureau of Immigration Region 2 director Eva Antiporda informed the PCG that the fishermen were already at Tongkang Fishing Association in Taiwan and would be turned over to the Taiwan Coast Guard in Kaoshiung.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is working on the fishermen's immediate return to the Philippines.