25/05/2025
𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧
A fisherman who had been the subject of multiple search and rescue operations conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard was successfully rescued by a group of local fishermen off the coast of Brgy. Mangsee, Balabac, Palawan.
On May 24, 2025, at around 4:25 PM, Mr. Al Annie P. Saymaran, 38, a resident of Barangay Mangsee, reported to Sub-station Mangsee that a person had been found and rescued at sea. Personnel immediately responded and verified the information. The rescued individual was identified as Mr. Roldan Estremos — the same person who had been missing for several days and was the subject of continuous search and rescue (SAR) efforts by Coast Guard Sub-Stations in the area.
According to the rescuers, at approximately 3:00 PM on the same day, about 11 nautical miles from Brgy. Mangsee, Mr. Jun Jun Indin, 45, a local fisherman, and his crew saw a man floating in open water, holding on to a piece of driftwood. They quickly approached and confirmed that the man was alive and conscious. They immediately brought him aboard and returned to Brgy. Mangsee, where they provided him temporary shelter and initial care.
At about 4:30 PM, Mr. Estremos was turned over to Sub-station Mangsee, where he received immediate assistance. He was referred to a nurse for medical evaluation, which confirmed that he was in stable condition. Coast Guard personnel also provided him with clothing, water, and food.
During the debriefing, Mr. Estremos recounted that after bailing water out of their motorized banca (MBCA), he accidentally fell overboard. Despite efforts to swim back, he was overpowered by strong waves and drifted away from the boat. He shouted for help, but his crewmates did not hear him.
At 6:50 PM, Mr. Louis Paul M. Wagner, a friend of Mr. Estremos, arrived at the station to accompany him home. Mr. Estremos stated that he will be staying at Mr. Wagner’s residence in Barangay Mangsee while recovering. Sub-station personnel advised him to rest, avoid eating heavily, and refrain from returning to sea in the meantime.
The Philippine Coast Guard’s Sub-station Mangsee had conducted a series of search and rescue operations over the past days following the initial report of Mr. Estremos’s disappearance. Coordination with nearby communities and continuous maritime patrols were part of the efforts to locate the missing fisherman. Efforts to contact the MBCA’s captain and Mr. Estremos’s relatives remain ongoing.
This incident highlights the vital importance of joint efforts among civilians, coastal communities, local authorities, and uniformed responders in ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals at sea. The successful rescue of Mr. Estremos is a result of strong cooperation, timely reporting, and coordinated action—proving once again that saving lives is a shared responsibility
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