Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 6) — The Philippine Coast Guard has filed a criminal complaint against the Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier and its crew involved in a collision with a Filipino fishing vessel last month.
The PCG said a case for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and damage to property was filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Occidental Mindoro on Monday against Vienna Wood’s crew, namely Zhang Weiwei from Shandong, China; Shin Bin from Henan, China; Yi Lei from Jillen, China; and Yang Xileng from Shandong, China.
PCG Station Commander of Occidental Mindoro LT. Valerie Lagua stood as complainant, while witnesses included PCG personnel, responders, and fishermen.
On June 27, M/V Vienna Wood collided several times with Fishing Vessel Liberty 5 in the vicinity of Occidental Mindoro, leaving 14 Filipinos — including 12 crew members and two passengers of Liberty 5 — missing up to today. Vienna Wood was sailing to Subic while Liberty 5 was en route to Navotas at the time of the collision.
The PCG said the court has the authority to declare the death of the missing Filipinos.
Based on the initial investigation, the PCG said the collision at around 10:20 p.m. on June 27 was not deliberate. But the foreign crew members were found to have committed negligence, sending a distress call via email three hours after the incident.
READ: Hong Kong vessel did not abandon Filipino fishermen, but several lapses found – PCG
