25 March 2004- Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Rafael E. Seguis praised the government of Vietnam for the
 rescue and assistance extended to eleven (11) Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea whose boat was
 severely damaged by bad weather.

 “On behalf of the Filipino people, I would like to express my profound gratitude to our neighbors in
 Vietnam for saving the lives of eleven Filipino fishermen who, without their timely rescue, would have
 perished in the South China Sea,” the Acting Secretary said.  “Bilateral cooperation with Vietnam on such
 matters is ongoing and this incident clearly demonstrates our very close and cordial relations.”

 “I am happy to report to you that, the eleven Filipino fishermen, who were well treated in Vietnam, have been
 repatriated last 20 March 2004 through the assistance of our Philippine Embassy in Hanoi”, he added.

 As relayed to the Embassy, the fishermen set out from Balayan, Batangas on 01 March 2004 aboard
 the fishing boat “MP Rene Boy” and two days later, encountered rough weather in the vicinity of
 Maccles Field near the Spratly Islands. The boat sailed into a storm where the waves caused the boat’s  outrigger to break, effectively removing its balance and stability, and causing it to leak.  The crew valiantly
 tried  to keep it afloat by constantly bailing water.

 Fortunately, the disabled boat was spotted by a Vietnamese fishing vessel, BD 1297, which, in turn,
 called on a second vessel, BD 2232, to help accommodate the fishermen.

 The Vietnamese boats reached Quoy Nhon in Bin Dinh province on 15 March where
 the Filipino survivors were turned over to the Vietnamese Frontier Guards.  The crew was brought to a
 hotel where a team from the Philippine Embassy was waiting to interview them and look after their needs.

 Two days later, the eleven Filipino fishermen were formally turned over to the Embassy by the Frontier
 Guards and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Committee of Binh Dinh province during a simple
 ceremony, highlighted by expressions of appreciation by the Embassy team leader and the Filipino crew’s
 captain.

 On 20 March 2004, the eleven Filipino fishermen came home to the Philippines and were reunited with their
 respective families.  END