DON MARCELINO, Davao Occidental — Five fishermen who were reported missing after failing to return from a fishing trip were found safe early Wednesday morning, October 8, after their boat ran out of fuel and they secured the vessel to a payaw in the waters off Sitio Lanipao, Barangay Linadasan.
The fishermen were identified as Tomas Snyder, 41; Jovinel Lumpo, 38; Ricardo Balco, 44; Ellen Tumalangon, 44; and Dodong Mercader, 46. They had reportedly left for a fishing activity at around 3:00 a.m. on October 7, but did not return as expected, prompting a search and rescue effort.
Personnel of the Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Don Marcelino, together with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Don Marcelino and local residents, located the fishermen at around 5:00 a.m. on October 8 in the vicinity waters of Sitio Lanipao.
Responders found the five men aboard their fishing boat, which had been secured to a payaw, an anchored raft commonly used by fishermen as a fishing structure at sea.
The rescue team successfully brought the fishermen to safety at around 5:30 a.m., transporting them back to shore for assessment. All five were found safe and without injuries, according to the information provided by authorities.
The fishermen later explained that their boat had run out of fuel while they were at sea, leaving them unable to immediately make their way back to shore. Rather than allowing the boat to drift, they secured it to the payaw and remained there while waiting for assistance.
Their decision to secure the vessel to the anchored raft ultimately helped responders locate them during the search operation.
The successful rescue, however, did not end the maritime search operations in the area.
Personnel of CGSS Don Marcelino, in coordination with MDRRMO Don Marcelino, are set to resume search and rescue operations for two other fishermen who remain missing after failing to return from a fishing activity in the vicinity waters of Barangay North Lamidan, Don Marcelino.
The separate search operation remains focused on locating the two missing fishermen and bringing them safely back to shore.
The incident also highlights the risks faced by fishing communities, particularly when boats encounter mechanical or fuel-related problems while operating far from shore. The case underscores the importance of maintaining sufficient fuel, communication equipment and other safety measures before heading out to sea, especially when weather and sea conditions may change unexpectedly.