Senate to probe WPS collision
That means the probe could determine where the domestic ships and international vessels should pass.
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That means the probe could determine where the domestic ships and international vessels should pass.
Senators want to investigate the fatal collision between a foreign-flagged oil tanker and a local fishing boat in the waters off Agno, Pangasinan, in the West Philippine Sea that resulted in the deaths of three fishermen last Monday.
Senator Francis Tolentino, in a radio interview, said he would press for a special investigation that would also help establish the country's "archipelagic sea lanes" to prevent a repeat of the incident.
"The intention here is to establish the archipelagic sea lanes. That means the probe could determine where domestic ships and huge foreign vessels should pass so that Filipino fishermen could avoid them," Tolentino, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, told reporters on Saturday.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, however, said the sea lanes are already defined under the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law, the amendment of which he co-authored with other senators in 2009.
Tolentino said he is weighing whether to start the investigation while still awaiting the reports of agencies required by international rules.
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He said the "incident could have been avoided if the archipelagic sea lanes of the Philippines had been determined."
Earlier, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said he plans to file a resolution to investigate the accident.
"We will file a resolution to probe the responsibility for this. It's a very unfortunate incident because, you know, the fishermen went there for a living, but they ended up dead. It must be investigated thoroughly by our authorities," he said.
Dela Rosa said all possibilities should be investigated "to determine everything."
"I hope it was a plain accident so that there are no other political or geopolitical implications. I hope, really," he added.
PCG fans out for rogue ship
Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard investigators are in Singapore to coordinate with authorities in apprehending the oil tanker.
Rear Adm. Armando Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said the investigators would meet with officials of Singapore's Port State Control, or PSC, about inspecting the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, the MV Pacific Anna.
"The inspection should target vessel compliance with the regulations of SOLAS Chapter V (safety of navigation). The result of the Singapore mission's inspection could be used in our investigation," Balilo said.
The PCG has also sent a formal request to the Marshall Islands Flag State to launch its own investigation into the incident.
"We expect that with this formal request, the Flag State of the Marshall Islands will conduct a safety investigation in compliance with the IMO's Casualty Investigation Code Chapter 6 on the state of the ship involved in a very serious maritime accident," Balilo said.
A flag state is a country where a company registers its commercial and merchant ships.
Claims to be pursued
The result of these investigations, he said, will be used to pursue claims and damages for the victims, survivors, and the owner of the FFB Dearyn, the capsized fishing boat.
The PCG is considering salvaging the fishing boat, but the operation will require the help of the PCG Aviation Force to conduct aerial surveillance while a 44-meter PCG multi-role response vessel will secure the waters around the incident area.
Harbor Star, a private maritime service provider, will conduct the salvage and towing operations to bring the FFB Dearyn to its home port in Subic, Zambales.
