Senators are eyeing to investigate the fatal ramming incident off the waters of Agno, Pangasinan, which resulted in the deaths of three Filipino fishermen last 2 October.

In a radio interview, Senator Francis Tolentino pressed the need to conduct a Senate special investigation on the ramming incident to help establish the country's "archipelagic sea lane" and further prevent a repeat of the incident in the future.

"Ang pakay dito ay ang pagbubuo ng archipelagic sea lanes. Ang ibig sabihin po nito ay iyong talagang daanan—dito dadaan yong mga barkong domestic, foreign at international vessels na malalaki, nang sa ganun alam ng ating mangingisda kung saan dadaan at makakaiwas sa isa't isa (The intention here is to establish archipelagic sea lanes. That means, thiw Ould really determine where the domestic ships or huge foreign and international vessels should pass through so that Filipino fishermen would know and they could avoid the vessels)," Tolentino, who chairs the Senate committee on justice and human rights, told reporters on Saturday.

Tolentino said he is weighing the idea of whether to start the investigation while still waiting for reports from concerned entities required by international rules.

He then stressed that the "incident could have been avoided if the archipelagic sea lane in the Philippines had already been determined."

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa earlier said he is planning to file a resolution to investigate the recent ramming incident between a Filipino boat and a foreign vessel off Pangasinan.

"We will file a resolution to investigate who is really responsible for this. It's a very unfortunate incident because you know fishermen went there for a living right and they ended up dying. It has to be investigated thoroughly by our authorities," he said.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo told reporters on Friday that they have sent personnel to Singapore and reached out to the local Port State Control authority there "to inspect: the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker, MV Pacific Anna.

"The inspection should be targeted in the vessel compliance with the regulations of SOLAS Chapter V (safety of navigation); the result of their inspection could be used in our investigation," Balilo said.

He added that the PCG has also sent a formal request for the Marshall Islands Flag State to launch its own investigation into the incident.

"We expect with this formal request the Flag State of Marshall Island will conduct a safety investigation in compliance with the IMO's Casualty Investigation Code Chapter 6 that the state of the ship involved in a very serious maritime casualty is responsible for ensuring that a marine safety investigation be conducted and completed," said Balilo.

He said that the result of these investigations will be used to pursue claims and damages for the victims, survivors, and owner of FFB Dearyn, the Filipino boat that capsized in the incident.

The PCG earlier said that the fatal sea collision was likely an accident.

Dela Rosa, however, said all possibilities should be looked into "to determine everything."

"We have to leave no stone unturned sa pag-conduct ng investigation. So, kailangan talagang ma-determine 'yan baka mamaya nga di natin alam (so we really need to determine the facts surrounding the incident)," he said.

"I hope it was a plain accident. So that walang ibang (there's no other) political or geopolitical implications. I hope, really," he added.