SANDAKAN: Four Filipino fishermen were rescued by Malaysian security forces near Pulau Billean off Sandakan, today, after they were adrift at sea for six days.
The fishermen were identified as skipper Arnei Fetalvero Viana, 40; chief mate Josefph Aque, 30; Roger Chaves Cheif, 49; and Thomas Taboso, 42.
Armed forces personnel on sea patrol duty found the four floating at 12.30pm.
The men had burns on their body.
It was learnt that their fishing trawler was hit by a storm and fell apart. The fishermen were set adrift almost 100 kilometres away from Mangsee, the Philippines.
Joint Task Forces 2 commander Brigadier General Zarondin Md Amin said all four fishermen were found clinging to debris from their boat to stay afloat.
"They have been taken to a nearby security post where they were immediately given medical treatment and meals by the armed forces.
"At the moment, we will place them at the armed forces settlement post on Pulau Billean due to bad weather," he said.
He said about 40 boats around the Mangsee archipelago drifted away and sank when Typhoon Tembin struck the southern Philippines, recently.
From the 40 boats, a total of 56 people were found while the fate of another trawler with 16 Filipino crew onboard is still unknown.enta