Kin of 3 ramming fatalities aided

The families of the three Filipino fishermen killed in the 2 October ramming incident in the West Philippine Sea have received cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The aid was handed over by Field Office 3 (Central Luzon) personnel under Regional Director Venus Rebuldela.

The three fishermen were identified as Dexter Laundensia, 40, the boat captain; Romeo Mejico, 38; and Benedick Uladandria, 62.

Rebuldela said their families received P10,000 each as burial assistance under the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program, plus boxes of family food packs.

The DSWD FO-3 also assisted the 11 fishermen who survived the accident, providing them with cash assistance of P5,000  each and boxes of food packs for their families.

The fishing boat FB Dearyn was rammed by a foreign commercial vessel sailing in the dark and rain through the West Philippine Sea, some distance from the Bajo de Masinloc. The survivors were all from Barangay Calapandayan in Subic, Zambales.

Along with the DSWD, the local governments of Masinloc and Subic also gave assistance to the fishermen and their families.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee yesterday started its investigation into the boat-ramming incident.

"I could not speculate. I don't even know who were the crew there. Probably it's an accident," Senator Francis Tolentino said in a media interview shortly after the hearing.

Captain Leo Bolivar, deputy commissioner for maritime affairs of the Republic of Marshall Islands, told the senators that the registered owner of the oil tanker, MV Pacific Anna, which rammed the fishing boat, is Compas Shipping 28 Corp. with address care of Sinokor Maritime Co., Ltd., in Seoul, South Korea.

Bolivar said the Maritime and Corporate Registries of the Marshall Island had started investigating the fatal collision as early as 4 October upon learning of the incident involving Pacific Anna.

He said they are now in the process of "concluding the investigation, and it will be a full report forwarded to the International Maritime Organization database.

Appeals were made by some senators for the owner of the Pacific Anna to compensate the victims of the fatal accident.

The Philippine Coast Guard said it continues to monitor the movement of the crude oil tanker. It was last tracked to have docked at Kidurong, Malaysia, and is moving away from the area.

Meanwhile, PCG Maritime Safety Services Commander Vice Admiral Joseph Coyme said the FB Dearyn is now being towed towards Subic, Zambales.