Taiwan Coast Guard rescues Filipino fishermen caught in storm

MANILA, Philippines - Amid the strain in Philippines-Taiwan ties due to the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman off Batanes last May, the Taiwanese Coast Guard recently rescued three Filipino fishermen off its coasts.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Lt. Col. Armand Balilo said Wednesday that the agency is coordinating with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office for the repatriation of the fishermen swept by tropical storm Huaning last July 15.

Santa Ana, Cagayan residents Ronald Dumaran, Hener Mendoza and Edwin Zoilo had been lost at sea for five days until they reached the shores of Eluanbi in Southern Taiwan, Balilo said in a radio interview.

The official added that the three fishermen were rescued by the Taiwanese Coast Guard's 1,800-ton Wei Shin vessel 80 nautical miles off Kaoshung Harbor last Sunday.

The Taiwanese servicemen also recovered a body and is still determining its identity.

The fishermen also recounted that there was another flat-bottom fishing boat with three crewmen caught in the storm that placed Northern Luzon under Signal No. 1 last week.

The other boat's whereabouts, however, are unknown as of posting time, but according to Focus Taiwan news, the Wei Shin and helicopters have been launched to search for the boat.