Boat capsizes: Three fishermen swim a kilometer to survive

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines— Three fishermen swam for their lives after their small fishing boat capsized off the waters of Valladolid town in Negros Occidental on Thursday.

Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica, chief of Philippine Coast Guard-Bacolod, identified the fisherman as Edwin Samodio, 51, his son Stephen—both of Barangay Tabalo, and Albert Mondejar, 30, of Barangay Bagumbayan, all in Valladolid.

Palabrica said the three ventured out to sea at 10 a.m. despite the gale warning and the sailing ban issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration that day.

Huge waves capsized their boat prompting them to swim for about a kilometer toward the shore of Tabao where they were rescued. They are now treated at a hospital, he added.. —Marchel P. Espina (FREEMAN)