21 Pinoys stranded in Palau return home to RP

GARAPAN, Saipan — Twenty-one Filipino fishermen who were stranded in Palau waters after their fishing boat ran aground on December 11, have returned home to the Philippines in batches.

Three of the fishermen returned home last week after taking a ride on a Cebu-bound sailboat.

The management of Continental Micronesia Airlines agreed on Friday to shoulder the airfare of the remaining fishermen who were flown to the Philippines in batches beginning Thursday.

Continental Micronesia provides scheduled flights from Palau to Manila.

“We’re proud to help in humanitarian efforts such as this," said Continental Micronesia director for Asia and Micronesia Sales and Marketing David Kendell in a statement.

“They survived an ordeal drifting in the open sea, but experienced a holiday miracle by being rescued and then cared for by the hospitable people of Palau," said Kendell.

“As we begin a new year, we’re happy to help reunite the fishermen with their loved ones and to bring them home."

The fishermen left General Santos City on November 8 to fish in Indonesian waters.

On December 4, their vessel, the KM Maranatha, got an engine trouble and lost radio contact.

The vessel drifted for seven days and eventually entered Palauan waters.

On Dec. 11, the boat ran aground at Helen's Reef that caused irreparable hull damage.

On Dec. 17, Palau’s marine enforcement officials rescued the fishermen and brought them to Koror for medical care.

Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino had told the media that Continental Micronesia was the only company that responded to the request of the Philippine Embassy in Palau for help in the repatriation Filipino fishermen. - Haidee V. Eugenio, GMANews.TV

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