THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday said it is looking into the involvement two Chinese commercial vessels in the recent sinking of a Filipino fishing boat off Subic, Zambales.
Bulk carriers Yong Fa Men Mei Lan Hu are now in in Adang Bay in Indonesia.
PCG spokesman Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said the agency has coordinated with the Indonesian Port State Control in the investigation and informed the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the incident.
“We will also write to the China Maritime Safety Agency for their cooperation in the ongoing investigation,” he said.
Balilo said initial investigation showed the Chinese vessels were in the vicinity of Sampaloc Point in Subic at the time the Filipino fishing boat Fbca John Robert was hit on July 3.
One of the Filipino fishermen on board, Robert Mondoñedo, was rescued by Filipino fishermen three days later. Mondoñedo’s brother, Jose, remains missing and subject of a search and rescue operations.
“They are the two vessels we are investigating (as involved) although fishermen are pointing to Yo Fa Men,” said Balilo. “They were in the area at that time. Either of the two but we are weighing on Yong Fa Men.”
Balilo said the two vessels were heading to Indonesia, from China, at the time.
“They are both in Indonesia as of now,” he said.
ASSISTANCE
Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino is calling on government to extend assistance to the two fishermen, as well as scholarships for Jose’s children.
Tolentino said he talked with Jose’s wife Delia, through phone patch radio interview, during which she asked for help in seeking assistance from the government.
He said she asked for help to send their children to school, and for livelihood to support the children.
Delia said it is Jose’s wish for their three children to finish their studies.
Meanwhile, PCG and PNP Maritime Group personnel rescued four Russians after their yacht ran aground in Tawi-Tawi last Monday, the PCG said yesterday.
Citing information from the Coast Guard Station Northern Tawi-Tawi, the PCG said the yacht ran aground off San Miguel in Mapun town after it “failed to detect the depth of the water in the said vicinity waters, causing it to run aground, list, and eventually submerge. “
“The rescued individuals were brought to the nearest hospital where the attending physician confirmed they were in good physical condition,” the PCG said in a statement.
The Coast Guard District Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said there was no trace of oil spill. — With Raymond Africa
