Manila, Sept. 15 -- Six crew members of a distressed fishing vessel have been rescued by the offshore patrol vessel BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17) southeast of the Philippine Rise on Tuesday.

The Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NFSL) identified the half-sunk fishing vessel as F/V Mr Kupido and crew members as boat captain Jayson Buheda, Legaspi Villanueva, Christopher Querez, Mario Burod, Armando Mise, and Tony Reyes, all from Quezon province.

Upon receiving the distress call, the BRP Andres Bonifacio, which was under NSFL's operational control and conducting territorial defense operations in the country's eastern seaboard, went to carry out a search, rescue, and assistance operations to the distressed vessel.

"Upon arrival, it was observed that F/V Mr Kupido was already half sunk. According to the crew, their fishing vessel encountered big waves that resulted in the damaging of its outrigger that subsequently caused a hole on (its) freeboard," NFSL spokesperson Lt. Regeil Gatarin said.

Quoting the crew, Gatarin said the members had been trying to keep the vessel afloat for two days but to no avail.

He said the crew members were provided clothes, food, medical assistance, and temporary billeting.