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Headline
Probe in boat ramming incident killing3 Pinoy fishers
By Nidz Godino
"After cross-referencing fishermen's accounts, date and time, we conducted thorough check on marine traffic… turns out Pacific Anna, crude oil tanker vessel registered under flag of Marshall Islands, aligns with details provided by fishermen," Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said three Filipino fishermen were killed while 11 others were injured when foreign crude oil tanker rammed mother fishing boat moored some 85 nautical miles off Panatag Shoal before dawn.
Report sent to media PCG identified three fatalities as FFB Dearyn captain Dexter Laudencia, 47, and his crewmen Romeo Mejeco, 38, and Benedicto Olandria, 62, all from Barangay Calapandayan in Subic, Zambales.
Three reportedly drowned and were declared dead by municipal health officer Dr. Marjorie Piga of Infanta, Pangasinan, where they were brought after incident.
Report from Philippine National Police-Pangasinan Provincial Office identified 11 other fishermen as Johnny Manlolo, 40; Estelito Sumayang, 50; Mario An, 50; Mandy An, 22; Michel An, 37; Gino Arpon, 30; John Michel Nogas, 37; Noriel Tolores, 27; William Asuntista, 39; Darwin Mejia, 32, and Reymark Bautista, 30, all crew members of ill-fated fishing boat and residents of Subic, Zambales.
They were brought to rural health unit of Infanta for medical examination and assessment.
Based on initial details given by survivors, it appeared collision might have taken place between FFB Dearyn and MT Pacific Anna, crude oil tanker registered under flag of Marshall Islands, resulted in capsizing of fishing boat and drowning of three fishermen.
It also intends to "reach out to flag of vessel and next port that vessel will visit, to be boarded by port state control officers."
PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, however, said details they have initially gathered are not yet conclusive. "We are still conducting investigation and that we are treating this matter as maritime incident," he said.
"PCG is committed to ensuring thorough and impartial investigation into this tragic incident… PCG extends our deepest condolences to families and love ones" of deceased, PCG-West Philippine Sea (WPS) spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
FFB Dearyn served as mother fishing boat of 14 crewmen during their fishing activities in Bajo de Masinloc, which is also referred to as Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal.
Accounts of fishermen survived indicated FFB Dearyn was moored to "payao" some 85 nautical miles northwest of shoal at around 4:20 in the morning.
At the time, eight of 14 crewmen were reportedly engaged in fishing activities in six different locations away from FFB Dearyn, while six others remained on board mother boat.
PCG said poor visibility in the area as well as weather condition might have contributed to maritime incident.
"Due to adverse weather conditions causing darkness, crew on board mother boat failed to detect unidentified vessel approaching, resulting in collision on starboard side caused mother boat to capsize," it stressed.
Three other fishermen who were aboard mother ship reportedly had difficulty in retrieving bodies of three fatalities because of inclement weather.
By 8 in the morning eight other fishermen returned to supposed location of FFB Dearyn and rescued three survivors as well as three deceased fishermen that were inside pilot house.
Using their eight service boats, 11 survivors and three deceased fishermen returned to Barangay Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan.
Barangay captain Napoleon Domalanta told media through Messenger they immediately coordinated with authorities when fishermen arrived in their village .
Incident was reported to PCG substation in the area.
Government will exhaust all legal remedies to bring justice to families of three Filipino fishermen who died in the sea collision, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said .
FMJ also vowed support and assistance to victims and their families.
"We are deeply saddened by deaths of three fishermen, including the captain of fishing vessel, we assure victims, their families and everyone we will exert every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for this unfortunate maritime incident." he said in post on X.
PCG is investigating incident to ascertain details and circumstances surrounding collision, according to the President.
"Let us allow PCG to do its job and investigate, and let us refrain from engaging in speculations in the meantime. ..rest assured government will provide support and assistance to victims and their families," he said.
Philippines earlier removed floating barriers installed by China Coast Guard in the area where incident occurred, traditional fishing ground for Filipinos.
FMJ had pointed out removal of floating barrier was not meant to create trouble in West Philippine Sea, but to protect welfare of Filipino fishermen and country's maritime territory.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) extended condolences to families of three fishermen.
"We wish to extend our deepest condolences to families of our fisherfolk who perished in this tragic event at sea, out of respect for bereaved families, we consider it prudent to wait for results of investigation before making any further statements in this regard." DFA said in statement.
Meanwhile, senators expressed outrage over death of three fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc boat ramming.
"We are extremely outraged and aggrieved by fatal ramming by unidentified vessel on Filipino fishing vessel in West Philippine Sea, resulting in loss of three innocent lives," Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said.
"While details remain unclear at this point, what is clear is there has been disregard for lives of our fisherfolk, who are simply making livelihood in our own seas...we will not rest until we get to bottom of this incident," Zubiri said, as he extended his sympathies to families and vowed to help them seek justice for their loved ones.
Senate president would await report of PCG on the matter.
"Still seaworthy other vessel should have extended assistance to those in distress," Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said… "our condolences to grieving families of those who died… I'm sure government has program to help them…also, our government can help families seek and get justice for what happened."
For Sen. Francis Tolentino, those responsible for incident must be held accountable under existing law.
"Need to protect our fisherfolk and our marine resources cannot be overemphasized through passage of our own Maritime Zone Law and procurement of necessary equipment for our coast guard as well. ..we await results of investigation being done," Tolentino said.
Tolentino first broke news about Bajo de Masinloc incident during public hearing of Senate finance subcommittee on proposed budget of Department of the Environment and Natural Resources for 2024.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who chairs Senate committee on national defense, emphasized authorities must conduct comprehensive and unbiased investigation to ascertain true circumstances surrounding tragic event.
"Safety and well-being of our fishermen must always be top priority, and those accountable for this incident must be held responsible for their actions…it is necessary to clarify this incident, whether it was an accident or not so that authorities can take appropriate measures," Estrada said.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros "condemned in strongest possible terms ramming of ship Pacific Anna, registered in Marshall Islands, into Filipino fishing boat, killing three of our citizens."
"It is deplorable that vessel left Filipino fishing boat and our citizens in water… despicable act is affront to all Filipinos, whoever did this must be held accountable: whoever they are, wherever they are," Hontiveros said.
Bajo de Masinloc has been traditional fishing ground of Filipino fisherfolk and is well within Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
Fishers' group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) called on authorities to investigate death of three Filipino fishermen after ramming incident in Panatag Shoal.
"We demand swift investigation on circumstances of foreign vessel's ramming of Filipino fishing vessel resulted in death of three fisherfolk in Panatag Shoal," Pamalakaya national chairman Fernando Hicap said.
He added unfortunate Filipino fishers have to be vulnerable and unprotected in country's own traditional waters.
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