Coast Guard tells how stranded fishers survived Ondoy's fury

BAUANG. La Union -- Four fishermen stranded at sea off the province are now with their families after they survived the wrath of Typhoon Ondoy when they were rescued by a passing Malaysian oil tanker vessel, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo said the fishermen Orlando Baliton, 48; Emelio Unto, 57; Arthur Caasi, 37; Sonny Boy Tagarino, 31; were rescued by the Malaysian ship M/T Seri Bijaksana.

The fishermen on board their motorized banca M/B John Mark went fishing at 4 p.m. when the typhoon hit the country.

They were on their way home to Bolinao, Pangasinan when their vessel ran out of gasoline and its outriggers were damaged.

Adding to their troubles was the arrival of typhoon Ondoy that made landfall in Iba, Zambales Thursday evening. By Saturday evening, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) placed some provinces, including La Union, under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1.

Commander Lyndon Sandreda, of the PCG district in La Union, said that when the fishing boat left shore on Sept. 23, there was still no declaration of a typhoon.

But when the tropical cyclone came, it brought with it “not much rain but the wind was strong. “I don’t know how the four fishermen did it, maybe they were just lucky that their boat did not capsize and they managed to stay inside the boat for two days, battling with the storm with no food or water to give them strength,” said Sandreda.

Their two-day ordeal at sea ended when they were spotted and rescued by the Malaysian ship some 40 nautical miles of Luna, La Union at around 3:45 p.m.

The M/T Seri Bijaksana just came from Malaysia and was on its way to Korea when it saw the boat in distress. They then coordinated with the PCG district office in Northern Luzon for the transfer of the four fishermen to them in La Union.

The PCG station in San Fernando, La Union on board the M/T Stanford of Malayan Towage Corp. then met at sea with the Malaysian tanker to pick up the rescued fishermen, who underwent a medical check-up before they were allowed to return to their families.

In a report from the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council headed by retired Col. Paterno Orduña, the fishermen were fetched by their families at the Philippine Coast Guard Northern Luzon Station in San Fernando, La Union.

Also, as per report from Infanta Police Station to the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office Sunday, nine fishermen from Infanta on board a motorized banca, Hans Patrick, who were earlier reported missing, had returned home Saturday afternoon, based on report reaching the PDCC yesterday morning Sept. 28.

Moreover, six families or about 39 persons from Sitio Punta, Poblacion were evacuated due to strong winds to the Sual municipal building while 48 families in Bonuan Binloc, 17 in Bonuan Boquig and one in Bonuan Gueset, were also evacuated in nearby schools in Dagupan City due to strong winds.

One incident of electrocution was reported in Barangay Dulig, Labrador town Sunday. The victim was identified as Nestor Versoza, 51, who died as a result of the incident.
The PDCC said that they are still assessing the extent of damages.

Meanwhile, a minute of silent prayer was offered by Gov. Amado Espino Jr. for those who perished and other victims of the massive floodings in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces spawned by Ondoy over the weekend.

Espino led other officials and some Pangasinan reporters in a minute of silence before the Lingguhang Talakayan sa Kapitolyo.. – With Jerry Padilla and Jennlyn Mondejar