Pinoy fishermen stranded on Chinese vessel for months appeal for help

Several Filipino fishermen have been stranded at sea for at least three months, housed in Chinese vessels that have reportedly continued to move farther away from areas that could be reached by cellular signals. The fishermen took to social media to appeal for assistance from the Philippine government after operations of the Chinese fishing vessel ended in May. The fishermen say their salaries have not reached their families, and their agency has not been coordinating for them to return home. “Tapos na po ang kontrata namin, tapos nilalayo nila kami sa signal, nilalayo nila kami para hindi maka-contact o makahingi ng tulong,” Nante Maglangit, one of the stranded fishermen, said in a report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday. (Our contract already ended, and they are distancing us from signals to prevent us from communicating or asking for help.) The fishermen also lamented that they have been left hungry, as food supplies lasted only until April. “Lugaw na lang po at saka ‘yung bigas, asin po tsaka minsan ‘yung isda na naka-freezer. Pinipilit na lang po namin kasi wala naman po kaming choice kasi kung hindi kami kakain, lalo kaming manghihina at mahihirapan,” said Maglangit. “‘Yung pera din po nila is iniipit daw po ng may-ari nitong barko at nung principal din nila, kaya ang nangyayari, kami po ‘yung nagiging pain para mai-release ‘yung pera nila para din po makauwi kami,” he added. (We are only eating porridge, rice and salt, sometimes the frozen fish. We are making do with what we have because we have no choice. We will become weak if we do not eat. The money is also reportedly being held by the owner of the ship and their principal. What is happening is that we are treated like bait for them to release the money and for us to be able to return home.) GMA News is in the process of trying to reach out to Global Mariner Offshore Services, the agency of the fishermen. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News

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