WESCOM rescues 10 fishermen in Recto Bank

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 8): WESCOM rescues 10 fishermen in Recto Bank

The Western Command (Wescom) deployed naval and air troops Saturday east off Recto Bank in the West Philippines Sea to rescue 10 fishermen stranded on their motor banca.

Lt. Cherryl Tindog of the Wescom Public Affairs Office (PAO) said a man named “Rubin” called for help on December 5 after the motor banca “3 Sisters” with its 10 crewmen suffered engine troubled within the vicinity of Recto Bank or Reed Bank.

The crewmen anchored the motor banca on the contested bank, and had run out of supplies, according to Rubin.

Responding to the call for help, Lt. General Roy Deveraturda, the newly-installed commanding officer of Wescom, immediately ordered the dispatch of a navy vessel to conduct rescue and assistance to the stranded fishermen.

Sent also was the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) Nomad plane to conduct food airdrop to the stranded fishermen, said Tindog.

As of posting time, the Wescom is waiting for the arrival of the navy vessel that rescued the fishermen.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=594886