He was identified as Alexey Savinov, 36, a crew member of the cargo ship MV Pacific Star, whose registry was unknown, said PO2 Johnny Muhajil of the Sinunuc police station.
The ship was reportedly en route to South Korea from Russia and was just passing through the southern Philippines, he added.
Savinov, from the far east Russian city of Vladivostok, told investigators he was pushed off the ship by a fellow crewman and had been swimming for hours before fisherman Kondo Yahiya rescued him on Wednesday, Muhajil said.
Savinov was plucked out of the sea off Santa Cruz island, about 1.5 nautical miles from this southern city, at about 2 p.m.
"He was lucky to be alive because there are many sharks out there," Muhajil said. "This Russian sailor told us he was pushed by his companion and that he fell off the ship. He told us that he swam for hours until he was spotted and rescued."
"We brought him to a hospital and then handed him over to the immigration people," Muha—jil said. The sailor had bruises on the knees and back. — Roel Pareño