3 Pinoy fishermen rescued off Batanes waters

Three Filipino fishermen who were drifting for four days at sea were rescued in waters off Batanes by a Taiwanese fishing vessel on Wednesday.

The Philippine Coast Guard on Saturday said in a Facebook post that the fishermen were rescued by the Taiwanese vessel Xhin Zhenfeng No. 3, according to Arthur Yang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

The fishermen, whose fishing raft engine malfunctioned off Calayaan Island, were brought on board the Taiwanese vessel and brought to the waters off Itbayat Island in Batanes along with the distressed boat.

The PCG's BRP Malabrigo then met the Taiwanese vessel at a rendezvous position and picked up the fishermen.

The fishermen were identified as Redento Fronda, 39; Jovani Tablisima, 24; and Roland Duerme, 18, all residents of Babuyan Island in Batanes.

Their boat was towed back to Basco, Batanes.

The PCG thanked Taiwan for rescuing the fishermen. —KG, GMA News