By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – Four fishermen were rescued in separate areas on Saturday, October 26, after their boats encountered rough seas due to a typhoon in Negros Occidental.
The first to be rescued were Robin Fajardo, 42, and Jose Carlo Jurial, 52, both residents of Barangay Sagua Banwa, Valladolid, Negros Occidental.
Commander Jansen Benjamin, head of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Northern Negros Occidental, said Fajardo and Jurial had been floating at sea for several hours without food or water after their boat capsized on Friday, October 25.
Their fishing boat was first sighted in Barangay Tapong, Pulupandan town, on Saturday morning before they were rescued off the coast of Silay City by other fishermen.
Benjamin said the two men were weak and underwent medical examinations before being brought home.
The fishermen had ventured out between the waters of Guimaras and Pontevedra around noon on October 25. About four hours later, strong winds and big waves damaged their boat, causing it to capsize, according to Benjamin.
In a separate incident, two young fishermen from Barangay Zone 1, Cadiz City, who had been missing for two days since October 24, were safely rescued in Placer, Masbate.
Benjamin identified the rescued fishermen as Joren Parochil, 22, and his 17-year-old companion. They were found aboard a boat in Masbate on Saturday afternoon.
Their motorized pump boat malfunctioned, causing them to drift until they reached an island in Masbate.
The young fishermen had gone fishing on Thursday morning, October 24, to retrieve a squid net despite the bad weather. Fortunately, they survived without food or water on the boat, Benjamin said.
Both fishermen are currently in the custody of PCG-Masbate and will undergo medical examinations. “Once cleared, they will be transported back to Cadiz,” Benjamin added.
Benjamin expressed his gratitude that the province reported no casualties or major maritime incidents related to Typhoon Kristine.
