BUTUAN, PHILIPPINES – Two of the six Surigao City fishermen reported missing were rescued, according to the Coast Guard Station in Surigao del Norte (CGS-SDN) on Sunday.

The CGS-SDN said the two fishermen were rescued by a passing fishing banca identified as FBCA Golden Top 888 on Saturday in the waters between the Bohol Sea and Siquijor province.

The FBCA Golden Top 888 turned over the rescued fishermen, identified as Joseph Mapalo, 35, a resident of Barangay Cagniog, and Jesmar Besing, 36, of Barangay San Juan, both of Surigao City, to the CGS-SDN.

The six fishermen departed Barangay Canlanipa, Surigao City, on the afternoon of February 28 to go fishing near Limasawa Island. As of this posting, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Surigao City reported that a search was underway for the remaining passengers in the area.

Unfortunately, solid waves in the waters at San Ricardo, Southern Leyte, wrecked the bow section of their fishing boat. The two people are survivors of a marine catastrophe in which six fishermen went missing on March 1, 2024, according to reports.

“They managed to report the incident to their relatives through phone calls but lost communications due to an unstable network connection,” the CGS-SDN report read.

The six abandoned their damaged fishing boat and went swimming together, but the strong current caused them to split up. The CGS-SDN is still in contact with other Coast Guard units in case any of the four fishermen who may still be missing are spotted.

We urge the general public to render the necessary assistance and immediately report to authorities if they are sighted,” CGS-SDN station commander Jerick Maglangit said.

The rescued fishermen were later returned to the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Surigao City for immediate medical treatment.

As of this date, Coast Guard Station Surigao del Norte continuously coordinated with other PCG units and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO)  through CDRRMO Surigao City for the possible sightings of the remaining four missing fishermen who are still nowhere to be found which possibly drifted at their respective area of responsibility.

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