Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 5) — The ramming of a Filipino boat by a foreign vessel off Bajo de Masinloc has no connection to the tensions between the Philippines and China in relation to the West Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
Asked about China’s involvement in the Oct. 2 maritime incident that resulted in the death of three Filipino fishermen, PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu categorically said it has nothing to do with the two nations’ dispute.
\”Ang reference natin is galing sa port of origin nila, which is Agno, Pangasinan. Hindi natin dapat i-associate dun sa– malayo kasi yan dun sa Bajo de Masinloc,\” Abu said in a briefing Thursday. [Our reference is from their port of origin, which is Agno, Pangasinan. We should not associate it with– because that is far from Bajo de Masinloc.]
It is said that the collision did not happen in Bajo de Masinloc but closer to the coast of the town of Infanta in Pangasinan.
The PCG said its cross-referencing of details provided by the fishermen indicated \”Pacific Anna,\” a crude oil tanker registered under the flag of Marshall Islands, may have been the vessel that rammed the Filipinos’ boat.
\”Sa flag of registry, walang involved na bansa na sinasabi natin (referring to China). Dun pa lang kita na eh. That’s why sinulatan natin yung bansa kung saan siya registered,\” Abu said. [In the flag of registry, the country we are talking about has no involvement. It’s clear there. That’s why we wrote to the country where it is registered.]
The collision killed three Filipino fishermen, including the captain, who were on board the boat in waters off Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
Abu earlier said the PCG had written to the port state of control in Singapore since the vessel was heading there from South Korea. He added that he also personally wrote to the government of the Marshall Islands to get information on the vessel.
\”We’re not necessarily, specifically concluding or pointing it out na siya mismo yun [that it was indeed the vessel]. It has to go through a very stringent and very careful investigation and we’re doing that,\” the PCG chief added.
The marine casualty investigation is ongoing to determine the liability of the owner and crew of Pacific Anna.
The PCG chief invited the survivors to Manila to share their information firsthand.
