INFANTA—A bus of the provincial government was sent to Manila on Thursday to fetch the five fishermen rescued in the South China Sea after their fishing vessel capsized at the height of Typhoon Emong on May 7.

They were met at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and joined by their grateful relatives on the trip back home.

The five fishermen were rescued by the Chinese ship Hebei Shenyong (Courage).

Leticia Dumas, mother of Israel Dumas, one of the fishermen, told The PUNCH Thursday morning before they set off for Manila that they attribute the safe return of their relatives to their faith in God.

The elder Dumas, a missionary, said she and other the relatives of the then missing fishermen had been very worried for the safety of their kin, who went out to sea on May 1, after they failed to return home for more than two weeks.

Leticia said it was already the third time that her son, who is 26 years old, went missing in the sea while fishing.

Emma Etac, wife of Wilson Etac, another rescued fisherman, said she never gave up hope and continued to pray for God to save her husband.

Wilson, 56, has previously been lost at sea three times before this latest incident.

P/Sr. Supt. Percival Barba, police provincial director, sent a team of policemen including the town police chief, P/Sr. Insp. Bonifacio Gannaban, to escort the families of the rescued fishermen on their way to and back from theairport.

Aside from Dumas and Etac, the three other rescued fishermen were David Querubin, Ariel Delos Angeles and Jimmy Bajar.

Four of their companions remain missing.

The families of the rescued fishermen expressed gratitude to the Philippine and Chinese Embassy officials for their assistance and to Governor Amado Espino Jr. for making it possible for them to make the trip to NAIA#

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