PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — A Filipino fisherman was rescued on New Year's Day by Chinese fishermen after spending eight days adrift in the waters of the West Philippine Sea while clinging to a piece of styrofoam he made into a floating device.

Rosalon Cayon, 31, a fisherman from Barangay Liberty in this city, was rescued by four Chinese fishermen on a sampan on 1 January, after his fishing boat suffered a hull breach and capsized approximately 40 nautical miles from the Buliluyan coast in Bataraza town, southern Palawan, within the disputed territory.

Lieutenant Colonel Rey Balido, who is currently serving as the acting spokesperson for Western Command (Wescom), explained Tuesday that their littoral monitoring system (LMS) stationed at Rizal Reef played an important role in facilitating the rescue.

"They departed from Rio Tuba on two separate boats. He drifted to the West Philippine Sea because his boat developed a hole," he said.

Balido said Cayon recounted that his ordeal began on 20 December 2023, when he and his fellow fisherman, known as "Junior," embarked on a fishing trip in separate boats.

Separated from Junior and with his vessel sinking beneath him on 23 December, Cayon clung to a piece of styrofoam to stay afloat in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Cayon's experience only ended when Chinese fishermen, who were on a sampan, noticed and saved him on 1 January 2024.

"Chinese fishermen spotted him, aided him, and brought him to Rizal Reef Detachment (RRD)," Balido said.

The Wescom acting spokesperson said his family had already been notified about his safety and stable condition under the care of the troops at the RRD.