A fisherman from Bacolod City was rescued, while two of his colleagues are reportedly missing, after their fishing boat was allegedly rammed late Thursday night by a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel in the vicinity of Guimaras and Iloilo.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel identified the rescued fisherman as 54-year-old Erwin Mansueto, a resident of Barangay Punta Taytay, Bacolod City; while the missing were identified 43-year-old Lupin Desposo and 30-year-old Sixto Tiangao, also residents of Bacolod City.

PCG-Western Visayas spokesperson, Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica, said the three were fishing in an area called Iguana Bank when a RoRo vessel purportedly rammed their boat, causing it to capsize.

Mansueto managed to jump out of their fishing boat, but the two others got separated.

He was later rescued by the M/V Maria Lolita, a RoRo vessel originating from Bacolod City and about to dock at Dumangas Port.

Mansueto was rushed to the Dumangas District Hospital and is reportedly in good condition.

PCG personnel immediately deployed patrol vessel BRP Cape Engaño to search for the two missing fishermen.

Palabrica confirmed receiving information from the PCG station in Antique indicating two individuals were spotted hanging off a floating wreck five nautical miles off the coast of Anini-y yesterday afternoon. However, he said other fishermen in the area were having a hard time retrieving them due to high waves.

The two were eventually picked up around 2:30 p.m., but Palabrica said they have yet to determine if they are the same missing individuals.

Meanwhile, in a separate radio interview, Chief Petty Officer Albino Rodriguez of PCG-Iloilo said it is possible the RoRo vessel that struck the fishing boat was not using its radar, which would detect any sea traffic in the area.

Rodriguez also pointed out, when sailing without radar, ships are required to post their personnel as lookouts in order to avoid other sea traffic.

Fishing boats, meanwhile, are required to have lights in order to be detected at night.

He added, it is possible the involved RoRo vessel did not know they rammed the fishing boat as they could have easily mistaken it for heavy waves in the area./DGB, WDJ