The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commended on Monday all the 19 crew members of a Norwegian-owned cargo ship - the 'MV Aspen Arrow' - that rescued four Filipino fishermen drifted in the South China, from the coast of Southern Palawan last Friday (Jan. 7, 2011).

The 18,000-gross ton MV Aspen Arrow was on its way to China, loaded with iron ore, when it chanced on the fishermen identified as Rolando Manduya, 37; Abdulsa Diohane, 21; Marcdelo Sacro, 20, and Tomelben Canohang, 15, who are all residentsts of Barangay Agutaya, Balabac town, Palawan.

Tamayo, when informed of the rescue last Saturday (Jan. 8, 2011), immediately directed search and rescue (SAR) PCG vessel BRP EDSA 2 in Manila to coordinate with the master (captain) of MV Aspen Arrow and set the turnover of the rescued fishermen to the PCG SAR ship rendezvoused off Corregidor Island last Sunday (Jan. 9. 2011) which co-incidentally were the the feast of "Jesus, the Black Nazarene" and "fiesta" of Quiapo, Manila.

When interviewed by the tasked PCG teams, the Palawan fishermen said they were properly attended by the crew of the rescuing ship, 19 of whom ar Filipinos, five Russians and one Croatian. The Yuletide of the rescued fishermen was buoyed up in joy, when, unexpectedly, the crew of MV Aspen Arrrow chipped in a total of US$600 (P26,520) and handed this to the Filipino fishers as the crew's belated Christmas presents for them and their families.

Admiral Tamayo, who has informed Department of Transportation and Communiction (DoTC) Secretary Jose "Ping" De Jesus of the rescuing activity, where all the rescued fishermen were well attended and taken care by the rescuing crew, and coordinated with the Norwegian Embassy in Manila, added that the Palawan fishers were reported missing last week.