The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has recognized 21-year-old Jhonny Marag of Barangay Sinabacan — the Filipino fisherman who rescued the four missing fisherfolk in the vicinity waters off Candelaria, Zambales, on 15 November 2023.

On 09 November 2023, four fisherfolk on board FB PEPITO 3 were conducting a fishing activity at approximately 70 nautical miles off Barangay Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan, when their motorbanca's engine malfunctioned.

It was also on 09 November 2023 when the PCG issued a notice to all fishermen in Northern Luzon to return to shore due to windy condition brought about by the northeast monsoon.

FB PEPITO 3 was not accounted for and was declared missing on 10 November 2023.

The PCG and local government unit (LGU) officials of Infanta launched joint search and rescue (SAR) operations to look for:

(1) Edgar Bejar (Boat Skipper),

(2) Jake Bejar (Boat Skipper's son),

(3) Melchor Molato (Boat Skipper's son-in-law), and

(4) Arnel Morano (another crew).

According to the Boat Skipper, they coasted for four days along the deserted sea, braving strong winds and killer waves, fending off hunger and thirst. They survived on melted ice that they used to preserve the fish they caught.

“The water was smelly but we can’t do anything but drink it. We threw away the fish as they were already rotting, and only saved the squid which we dried under the sun, which was also rotting but we still ate them. We were already losing hope that we would be rescued. Just one more day in the sea without rescue and we would all have died,” Boat Skipper Bejar shared.

At around 8AM on 15 November 2023, 21-year-old Jhonny Marag of Barangay Sinabacan, Candelaria, Zambales, rescued the four missing fisherfolk at approximately 40 nautical miles off Candelaria.

He shared he saw a smoke signal from FB PEPITO 3, urging him to proceed to the said vicinity waters.

The LGU officials of Candelaria transported the four rescued fisherfolk to Infanta, Pangasinan — all in good physical condition.