Jonathan Frederic De Santos

A hunting Needlefish at Seaquarium Beach on Curacao in 2012. Christian Grill. CC BY-SA 3.0

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761980853875Needlefish2.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A hunting Needlefish at Seaquarium Beach on Curacao in 2012. Christian Grill. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/">CC BY-SA 3.0</a></span></span></span></div><p>OCCIDENTAL MINDORO — A 45-year-old fisherman is under medical observation after being attacked by a needlefish while fishing off the coast of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro last Thursday morning.</p><p>The long, pointed snout of the needlefish — locally known as bilaan — pierced straight through the neck of the fisherman, identified as Edilberto Lacerna.</p><p>Rescue teams first brought the victim to hospitals in Sablayan and Mamburao.</p><p>He was later transferred to the Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City, where doctors performed surgery to remove the fish lodged in his neck.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PLmMN_6prQ0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>According to Ma. Annabel Lacerna, her husband is still having difficulty speaking.</p><p>“Obserbahan pa daw po baka magnana sa ilalim ng natusok ng isda dahil matindi daw po yung  natusok,” said Lacerna.</p><p>(He will be under observation against infection because the wound was severe)</p><p>In an interview with ABS-CBN News, the victim’s brother-in-law, Augusto Marsan, said the attack occurred around 3 a.m.</p><p>Lacerna was diving and spearfishing with a friend when the incident happened.</p><p>“Pag-ahon niya siguro nakabukas pa ang ilaw ng lente niya, flashflight niya, yun sinugod siya ng needlefish, umatake lang po sa kaniya,” Marsan recounted.</p><p>(He may have had his flashlight turned on when he surfaced, prompting the needle fish to attack)</p><p>His companion quickly brought him back to Barangay Burgos by boat, where personnel from the MDRRMO immediately responded.</p><p>This is not the first time a needlefish attack has been reported among fishermen in Occidental Mindoro.</p><p>Lacerna said many in Occidental Mindoro who were injured by needlefish later died and she is grateful that her husband survived.</p><p>Ma. Annabel Lacerna is appealing for assistance for their family’s daily needs, especially since they have six young children.</p><p>“Wala po maghahanapbuhay sa aming pamilya, matagal pa po ito makakarekober,” she appealed.</p><p>(There is nobody in our family who can earn a livelihood. It will take him  a long time to recover)</p><p>The victim remains confined at Batangas Medical Center.</p><p>In April 2024, a 59-year-old fisherman in Tigbauan, Iloilo died after being attacked by a needlefish that pierced his abdomen with its sharp snout.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/11/1/mass-wedding-held-at-flood-control-project-in-occidental-mindoro-draws-attention-1311"><strong>Mass wedding held at flood control project in Occidental Mindoro draws attention</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s-pKgKZZppY?si=MmaAxRYotwBOycb0" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>A 45-year-old fisherman is under medical observation after being attacked by a needlefish while fishing off the coast of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro last Thursday morning.</p>

A 45-year-old fisherman is under medical observation after being attacked by a needlefish while fishing off the coast of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro last Thursday morning.

Needlefish snout pierces fisherman's neck in Occidental Mindoro

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Needlefish snout pierces fisherman's neck in Occidental Mindoro

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 01, 2025 03:14 PM PHT

|

Updated November 01, 2025 06:31 PM PHT

Read More:

NEEDLE FISH

FISH ATTACK

SABLAYAN

OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

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