Chinese fishing boat sinks off Tawi-Tawi; crewmen safe

MANILA, Philippines - Seven Chinese crewmen were rescued after their fishing boat caught fire and sank off Tawi-Tawi yesterday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

A local fishing boat, F/B King and Queen, spotted the Chinese boat on fire and sinking at around 7 a.m. near Mougligi Island in Mapun, said Commodore Leopoldo Laroya, head of the PCG Southwestern Mindanao district.

He said the foreigners are safe, and would be brought to Brooke’s Point in Palawan for questioning.

The rescuers were not able to get information from the survivors who do not speak or understand English.

Laroya said they have yet to determine if the Chinese were poaching or intruding in Philippine waters.

“If you look at the map, Mapun is near the border of Philippines and Malaysia. I cannot say the exact point where the vessel caught fire and where the survivors were rescued,” he said. 

“We do not have details yet or whether the vessel was fishing or was just passing through,” he added.

The PCG headquarters will decide if it will inform the Chinese embassy.