The Philippine Coast Guard and various local partners have been combing the waters off Samar province in the country's Eastern Visayas region after a fishing vessel with eight people on board had gone missing.
Eyewitnesses said the unnamed vessel sailed out of Catbalogan City in Samar on Monday, September 6. However, it failed to return later that same day.
The coast guard and other agencies then launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation.
At 11:00 local time on Tuesday, September 7, an eyewitness sighted four people adrift in the waters off the town of Daram. The castaways, who were subsequently rescued, have been identified as fishermen who had also been on the missing boat.
Authorities said a fifth survivor from the same boat was later found drifting elsewhere along the coast of Samar.
All five survivors were reported to be in good physical condition and have since been cleared to return to their respective families.
The coast guard said the SAR effort for the three missing fishermen was still ongoing as of 13:00 on Thursday, September 9.