Three Filipino fishermen who drifted at sea for five days before being rescued by a Taiwanese coast guard vessel earlier this month said Tuesday that they will never forget the help they received.
The fishermen, who returned to the Philippines earlier in the day, said they will not forget the commander of the Coast Guard vessel, Lu Chia-fu, and others who saved their lives and gave them help.
Taiwanese officials based in Manila also offered their sympathy to the fishermen, who arrived at Clark International Airport in the northern Philippines that day.
The Coast Guard came to the rescue July 21 after it was notified that a Philippine fishing vessel was drifting 37 nautical miles off Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan.
The sampan left the Philippines July 15 but was damaged in high seas caused by Tropical Storm Cimaron and began to take in water July 17.
The fishermen said several ships sailed by while they were drifting at sea but did not notice them.
Speaking to reporters at Clark, one of the fishermen said the help provided by the Taiwan government and the Kaohsiung branch of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) was unforgettable. He also displayed a handkerchief signed by Lu.
MECO is the Philippine representative office in Taiwan.
After the fishermen arrived at the airport, MECO officials took them to Manila and were later to arrange for them to return to their homes.
MECO Chairman Amadeo R. Perez Jr. expressed gratitude for Taiwan’s humanitarian assistance.
The Central News Agency