5 fishermen rescued by Vietnamese boats set to fly back home

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The 5 rescued fishermen are Willy Diaz, Isny Boy Diaz, Rodney Acosta, Richard Matiaong and Asadin Taha

MANILA, Philippines – The 5 Filipino fishermen rescued by Vietnamese fishing vessels while stranded off Palawan are set to be repatriated from Vietnam, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.  

In a statement, DFA said the fishermen, namely Willy Diaz, Isny Boy Diaz, Rodney Acosta, Richard Matiaong and Asadin Taha, were turned over to the Philippine embassy in Hanoi Friday, February, at the Border Guard Office in Nha Trang City.

According to Diaz’s account, he and his companions were on their way back to Balabac in Palawan from nearby Mangsee Island on Dec 19, 2012 when their boat’s engine broke down. 

The group went to Mangsee Island 10 days earlier to fish and drop off some individuals who hitched a ride with them.

Diaz and his companions spent Christmas Day at sea. After being stranded for a week, 3 Vietnamese fishing boats owned by Tran Kim Hoa spotted them on the evening of December 25. They boarded the boats early morning of December 26.

Back to land

The 5 Filipinos were able to go back to land when the Vietnamese fishermen arrived in Nha Trang City on January 19 and turned them over to the Border Guard of Khan Hoa Province. 

They were formally turned over to Philippine authorities Friday. During the turnover ceremony, Philippine embassy in Hanoi assistance-to-national officer Hector Herrera thanked the Vietnamese officials for helping the 5 Filipino fishermen.

DFA said the Boarder Guard provided meals and accomodation to the rescued fishermen while they were in the custody of Vietnamese authorities. 

The group was expected to travel to Ho Chi Minh City from Nha Trang City after the turnover ceremony for their flight back to Manila.

Once back in their home soil, DFA said the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs will receive and turn them over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which will then assist them in returning to Palawan. – With a report from Angela Casauay/Rappler.com

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