Avito, 40 and son Joseph, 22 and brother Cesar, 42, all surnamed Emia from Barangay Omboy, Abucay, described their ordeal after the engines of their two small fishing boats malfunctioned due to strong waves.
“Nagkaroon na ako ng leksiyon. Kapag may anunsiyo na may bagyo, hindi na ako lalabas at hindi manghihinayang sa kikitain sapagka’t buhay ko naman ang kapalit,” Avito said.
He said that he left Omboy at 12 midnight to raise his net he left in the sea. “Papandawin ko lamang ang laman ng lambat ko at dapat nakauwi na ako ng alas-2 ng madaling araw bago lumakas ang bagyo pero nasira ang makina ng bangka ko,” Avito said.
He said the anchor of his banca got cut so he jumped out of the water and tied his banca to bamboo pens of green mussels. “Kung hindi ko agad naitali sa tahungan, baka tinangay na ako sa Cavite,” Avito said.
He said that he stayed at the rear portion of his banca, draining it of water from 2 a.m. to 5 p.m. until they were rescued.
“Kinakausap ko bangka ko at sarili ko na kung gustong lumubog, lumubog na sana dahil pagod na ako sa kalilimas ng tubig,” Avito said.
