Five Filipino fishermen reported missing off Zambales province last month have been rescued near Vietnam, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday.
The PCG, citing reports from the National Search and Rescue Commission of Vietnam, said the fishermen were rescued some 300 nautical miles off the south central province of Phu Yen. The five were identified as Regino Suico, Naptali Surbando, Remy Jiray, Alfredo Mangubat and Diego Abano.
A Vietnamese fishing vessel found the five on their damaged boat on Jan. 30. The Filipinos were turned over to the border guards and brought to Tuy Hoa City, the provincial capital. They are currently staying in a hotel while the Philippine Embassy is coordinating their repatriation.
Lt. Cmdr. Armando Balilo, PCG public affairs chief and deputy chief of staff for community relations, said the fishermen were earlier reported missing somewhere in the South China Sea after their boat encountered a local storm.
Balilo said the relatives of the fishermen have already coordinated with the PCG and the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding their repatriation.
