PHILIPPINE EMBASSY, HANOI ASSISTS FOUR FILIPINO FISHERMEN RESCUED IN VIETNAMESE WATERS

26 February 2007 – Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Estrella A. Berenguel reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that 4 Filipino fishermen were rescued by Vietnamese fishermen on 18 January 2007 at Phu Yei Province .

The Filipino fishermen were Rolando Canalita, Ricky Recalde, Leonard Morales, and Danny Bulakena.

On 12 January, amidst stormy weather, the fishermen sailed on their 27-foot fishing boat; the boat’s engine broke down two days later. They had no communication equipment to send distress signal.

The vessel was drifting in Vietnamese territory when Vietnamese fishermen found and gave the Filipinos immediate care and food. They were taken to Tuy Hoa City on 29 January and turned over to the Frontier Guards and the People's Committee of the province.

Upon receiving an advice from the People's Committee on the plight of the Filipino fishermen, the Embassy, in coordination with the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs, immediately sent a consular team to give appropriate assistance.

During the official turnover on 7 February, which was covered by Phu Yen's TV station, the Filipino fishermen expressed their appreciation to their Vietnamese rescuers and the province's officials. They were repatriated to the Philippines on 13 February aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 592.

Such accidents at sea are often aggravated by lack of proper communication facilities in many Philippine fishing boats, said Ambassador Berenguel. She added that to prevent the recurrence of such mishaps, Philippine border control authorities and fishermen should make sure that vessels are sea worthy and equipped with appropriate communication equipment before they set sail. END

/epa

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