Coast Guard: 'Ramming' incident may be 'accidental'

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday that the "ramming" of a small Philippine fishing boat by an unidentified large ship near the disputed Panatag Shoal may be an "accident" and "not deliberate."

In a television interview, Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, said they have yet to verify information about the ship that rammed fishing boat Axl John. He said the PCG is coordinating with maritime authorities in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore to identify the foreign ship.

"Mahirap sabihin kung [ito ay aksidente o sinadya], pero kung ito (aksidente) at nakita ng mga tripolante at kapitan, naniniwala ako na tutulungan nila [ang ating mga mangingisda]...Medyo maliit itong bangkang fishing boat. Maliit ang bangka [at aminado] ang mga mangingisda, iyong visibility ay hindi maganda, malakas ang alon at maaring hindi sila nakita at nadaanan lamang, " Balilo said.

He said that it has been the custom in the seas to help people who are in distress, adding that the foreign ship is estimated to be three times bigger than a Superferry ship.

"Kung nakita nila [ang bangka], hindi nila sasagasaan, tinulungan pa sana nila iyon. Pero para sa amin, sa Coast Guard, gusto pa din naming malaman kung ano ang nangyari. Kung ito ay sinadya, unfair naman sa mga kababayan natin at dapat panagutin [ang may-sala]," Balilo said.

The ramming incident left one Filipino fisherman dead and four others still missing. Three fishermen have been rescued.

Before the incident, the fishermen, who are from Bolinao, Pangasinan, said their boat was anchored to a payaw as it was already filled with too much water due to big waves caused by bad weather.

The PCG said yesterday that the only ship within the vicinity when the Philippine fishing boat was rammed by a larger vessel last week was Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier M/V Peach Mountain operated by an Australian company and with 29 Chinese crew members.

The collision happened near the disputed Panatag Shoal in Zambales province.

A Chinese naval or maritime vessel was earlier thought to be the culprit in the collision, which took place amid the raging territorial row between the Philippines and China over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

One Filipino fisherman died due to the collision. Three crewmembers of the local fishing boat have been rescue and four more were still missing.

The PCG has already deployed a helicopter to conduct an aerial search for the missing fishermen from Bolinao town in Pangasinan province.

The four missing fishermen are Fred Celino, 31; Arnold Garcia, 38; Domy de los Santos, 38; and Amante Resonable, 30.

The PCG has also issued advisories to all vessels who may pass by the area where the fishing boat sank to be on the lookout for the four fishermen.