Coast Guard seeks hold departure order vs Chinese crew in Mindoro sea collision

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8) — The Philippine Coast Guard has asked the courts, through the Justice Department, to issue a hold departure order against the crew of the Hong Kong-registered bulk carried MV Vienna Wood so they can face criminal charges in the country.

Coast Guard Commandant Vice Admiral George Ursabia, Jr. on Wednesday said they want the 20 Chinese crew members to remain under the custody of Philippine authorities and to be prevented from returning to China following the collision that left 14 Filipino fishermen and passengers missing.

“Kahapon, nag-file na tayo ng motion para maiwasan natin yung pagbalik sa China nung mga tripulante ng MV Vienna Wood, lalo na yung mga sinampahan natin ng kaso,” he said.

[Translation: On Tuesday we filed a motion to prevent the crew from returning to China, especially those we filed cases against.

The PCG on Monday filed before a prosecutor a case of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and damage to property against the Chinese owners and crew of Vienna Wood after their vessel collided with a Filipino fishing boat in Occidental Mindoro. Named in the complaint were Zhang Weiwei from Shandong, China; Shin Bin from Henan, China; Yi Lei from Jillen, China; and Yang Xileng from Shandong, China.

Amid speculations the Chinese government could request to free the Chinese crew, Ursabia clarified China is not meddling in the cases.

“Wala pong pressure mula sa China na makialam sa kaso. Maliwanag na may full jurisdiction tayo sa kaso dahil sa karagatan natin nangyari ‘yung insidente,” Ursubia explained.

[Translation: There is no pressure from China, they’re not involved. It’s clear we have full jurisdiction because the incident happened in our territory.]

The top official met on Wednesday with the families of the 14 people on board the ill-fated fishing vessel Liberty 5 at the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila. The families were accompanied by representatives of the Irma Fishing and Trading Inc, which owns the local vessel.

The meeting comes a day after the PCG ended the search and retrieval operations for missing fishermen, more than a week since their fishing boat capsized after colliding with bulk carrier, off the coast of Mamburao town on June 27.

“Sa ngayon, wala pa rin tayong nakikita na katawan. But we cannot cannot declare them dead,” Ursabia told the families. “There is still a possibility na buhay pa sila.”

[Translation: We still haven’t found their bodies but we cannot declare them dead yet. There is still a possibility that they’re alive.]

The PCG station in Occidental Mindoro will continue to be on the lookout for any possible lead and information to locate the fishermen. Coast guard personnel will also patrol adjacent coastal municipalities.

The Coast Guard chief also refuted allegations that some of the victims were being kept inside the Hong Kong bulk carrier.

“Nahalughog po natin ang buong pasilidad ng MV Vienna Wood. Wala pong katotohanan ang mga bali-balita na nasa loob nito ang ilan sa mga mangingisda na biktima ng insidente,” he told the distraught families.

[Translation: We searched Vienna Wood. The rumors that the fishermen are inside are false.]

The PCG said it will continue to extend all forms of support to the families, including the plan of Irma fishing to also file a civil case against MV Vienna Wood.