BY NYARIKA DOMANAIS
BACOLOD City – Six fishermen were rescued off the coast of Silay City, Negros Occidental after their motor banca sank yesterday morning.
A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) tugboat safely transported the survivors – Liberato Sevilla, 58; Joan Infante, 37; Elmer Tiongzon, 39; Jondle Sevilla, 24; Ricky Sevilla, 30; and Arnel Sevilla, 25 – to Bredco Port in this city.
Commander Paterno Belarmino of the Coast Guard Station Northern Negros Occidental said the fishermen left Catabla Baybay, Barangay Zone 3 in neighboring Talisay City around 4 a.m. yesterday.
While fishing in the waters off Silay City around 7 a.m., their motor banca was hit by strong winds and waves causing one of the outriggers to detach, Belarmino said.
Water started to flood the motor banca and as the boat was unbalanced, the six fishermen were forced to jump into the sea.
At around 9 a.m. their headquarters in Barangay Banago in this city received a distress call from passing tanker ship, saying they spotted the six fishermen floating around four nautical miles from Silay City coastline.
The fishermen were immediately given medical attention at the Coast Guard Sub-station Bacolod.
Belarmino added none of them suffered serious injuries./PN