A Filipino fishing boat was reportedly rammed near the Spratlys Islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), but the culprit remained unidentified.

On Thursday, Senator Francis Tolentino condemned the incident, noting that the fishermen involved were residents of Naic, Cavite, his province.

According to the senator, “five of eight fishermen from the damaged boat survived after 17 days at sea,” while the three others remain missing.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that efforts were underway to identify and track down the foreign vessel responsible for the collision.

The waters of the Spratlys are a contentious area due to ongoing territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.

“I hope our authorities can find them. I also support the efforts of the PCG to track down the culprit vessel for the government to take appropriate action,” Tolentino said, citing similar incidents in the past.

In July last year, a Filipino fishing boat was rammed in Subic, Zambales by a foreign vessel that fled. One of the victims in that incident is still missing.

In October 2023, a foreign oil tanker collided with a fishing boat near Panatag Shoal, resulting in the deaths of three Filipino fishermen.

Tolentino pointed out that the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law was “precisely passed to prevent such incidents.”

The law, Republic Act 12065, designates sea lanes that serve as “expressways” for foreign vessels passing through Philippine archipelagic waters to ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen at sea.