NAVAL forces rescued on Sunday, May 23, 2021, 31 Filipino fishermen in the vicinity of Nares Bank in the West Philippine Sea.

The Naval Forces West said they received a distress call from Filipino fishing boat FB Espanola regarding another Filipino vessel FB Pauline 2.

It said FB Pauline 2 suffered “hull derangement” and a hole on its freeboard in the vicinity of Nares Bank.

The fishermen were rescued by BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35).

"The 31 fishermen were received on board PS35 where they were medically checked, given food and given accommodation," the Naval Forces West said in a statement.

They were brought to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)