3 fishers’ death sparks outrage

Senators on Wednesday condemned the fatal ramming of a Filipino fishing vessel by a foreign oil tanker in the West Philippine Sea early this week that claimed three Filipino lives.

"We are extremely outraged and aggrieved by the fatal ramming of a Filipino fishing boat by a Marshall Islands-registered oil tanker in the West Philippine Sea, which resulted in the loss of three innocent lives," Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri told reporters in a press briefing at the Senate.

"This crude oil tanker should have had the proper equipment and radar to be able to detect even small fishing boats," he said, adding that the crew of the ship should be held accountable for what he described as a "hit-and-run" road incident.

"It's like a hit-and-run incident on our roads. Homicide charges can be filed if there was clear neglect on their part," he said.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported yesterday that three Filipino fishermen were killed when their fishing boat was rammed by a foreign commercial vessel at Bajo de Masinloc, Zambales on Monday.

They were identified as boat captain Dexter Laudencia, 47; Romeo Mejico Jr., 38; and Benedicto Olandria, 62.

The vessel that rammed Filipino fishing vessel FFB Dearyn was identified as Pacific Anna, a crude oil tanker registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

According to a survivor's account, while the FFB Dearyn was moored some 85 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc at around 4:20 a.m.. Monday, eight crew members were fishing off a floating device known as a payao while six crew members, including the boat captain, remained on the mother boat.

Since it was gloomy following a sudden storm, the crew did not notice a southbound commercial vessel heading straight toward them. It rammed the starboard side outrigger, causing the FFB Dearyn to capsize.

The Filipino crew panicked and tried to escape from the area while the unidentified vessel continued on its course.

"However, at approximately 8 a.m. on Monday, the eight scattered crew members returned to the mother boat and retrieved the bodies of the three casualties from inside the pilot house," the PCG said, quoting the survivors.

The survivors then proceeded to Coast Guard Sub-Station Infanta with the three bodies, using their eight small service boats.

The Coast Guard said port state control officers will board the Pacific Anna at its next port.

The surviving crewmembers were identified as Johnny Manlolo, Estelito Sumayang, Mario An, Mandy An, Gino Arpon, John Michael Nogas, Noriel Tolores, William Asontista, Darwin Mejia and Reymark Bautista.

President's assurance

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government will exhaust efforts to hold accountable those responsible for the death of the three Filipino fishermen at Bajo de Masinloc.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Marcos expressed his deep sadness over the deaths of the fishermen.

"We are deeply saddened by the deaths of the three fishermen, including the captain of the fishing boat," Marcos said. "The incident is under investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and the commercial vessel."

He assured the victims and their families of government assistance.

"Rest assured, the government will provide support and assistance to the victims and their families," he said.

Zubiri said: "If they were aware that they rammed the fishing vessel, which led to its capsizing and did not help the crew; if there was a clear intent to do that, of course, charges of homicide can be filed against the ship captain and the shipmates involved."

The Philippines, he said, should demand financial assistance on behalf of the families of the three fishermen who were killed.

Despicable act

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros also condemned what she called a "despicable act" by the foreign vessel.

"I condemn in the strongest possible terms the ramming of a Filipino fishing boat by the ship Pacific Anna, registered in the Marshall Islands, which killed three of our citizens," Hontiveros said. "It is deplorable that the vessel left the Filipino fishing boat and our citizens in the water. This despicable act is an affront to all Filipinos."

Hontiveros called on the authorities to hold the foreign vessel's crew liable for the incident.

Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, echoed her fellow lawmakers' calls for justice for the Filipino fishermen.

"Those found responsible must be meted the appropriate punishment. No one should escape the long arm of the law," Poe said in a separate statement. "We call on our maritime authorities to increase their presence in our waters and strictly monitor local vessels sailing to fish to ensure their safety."

Senator Francis Tolentino said those responsible should be held accountable.

"The need to protect our fisherfolk and our marine resources cannot be overemphasized through the passage of our own Maritime Zone Law and the procurement of the necessary equipment for our Coast Guard as well. We await the results of the investigation being conducted," he added.

Bajo de Masinloc, or Scarborough Shoal, has long been a source of tension between Manila and Beijing. It is located within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

China seized the ring of reefs from the Philippines in 2012 and has since deployed patrol boats in the area.