Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it has informed the Chinese embassy about the suspected foreign vessels that rammed a Filipino fishing boat on July 3.
In a statement, the PCG said it will ask the China Maritime Safety Agency for its cooperation on the investigation.
The PCG earlier reported that an unidentified ship hit the fishing vessel of brothers Robert and Jose Mondoñedo off Sampaloc Point in Subic, Zambales. Robert was rescued on July 6, while Jose has been missing for over a week.
The suspected vessels bear the Chinese names “Yong Fa Men” and “Mei Lan Hu.”
“The PCG coordinates with the Indonesian Port State Control as the suspected foreign vessels (two Chinese vessels) are currently in the vicinity waters off Adang Bay, Indonesia,” it said in a press release.
It added that BRP Sindangan is also scouring nearby waters to find the missing fisherman.
Senator Francis Tolentino, committee on Philippine maritime and admiralty zones chairperson, said he has reached out to the Justice Department and the PCG to assist the Mondoñedo family.
“Hindi po natin bibigyan ng puwang ‘yan hanggat di mabibigyan ng solusyon ‘yan, makakaasa po kayo dyan,” Tolentino was quoted in a statement.
[Translation: We won’t stop until we don’t find a resolution. I can promise you that.]
NewsWatch Plus Correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report.
