3 Pinoy fishers killed in boat ramming incident

MANILA, Philippines — Three Filipino fishermen were killed while 11 others were injured when a foreign crude oil tanker rammed a mother fishing boat moored some 85 nautical miles off Panatag Shoal before dawn last Monday, according to authorities.

In a report sent to the media yesterday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) identified the three fatalities as FFB Dearyn captain Dexter Laudencia, 47, and his crewmen Romeo Mejeco, 38, and Benedicto Olandria, 62, all from Barangay Calapandayan in Subic, Zambales.

The three reportedly drowned and were declared dead by municipal health officer Dr. Marjorie Piga of Infanta, Pangasinan, where they were brought after the incident.

A report from the Philippine National Police-Pangasinan Provincial Office identified the 11 other fishermen as Johnny Manlolo, 40; Estelito Sumayang, 50; Mario An, 50; Mandy An, 22; Michel An, 37; Gino Arpon, 30; John Michel Nogas, 37; Noriel Tolores, 27; William Asuntista, 39; Darwin Mejia, 32, and Reymark Bautista, 30, all crew members of the ill-fated fishing boat and residents of Subic, Zambales.

They were brought to the rural health unit of Infanta for medical examination and assessment.

Based on the initial details given by the survivors, it appeared that a collision might have taken place between FFB Dearyn and MT Pacific Anna, a crude oil tanker registered under the flag of Marshall Islands, that resulted in the capsizing of the fishing boat and drowning of the three fishermen.

“After cross-referencing the fishermen’s accounts, the date and time, we conducted a thorough check on marine traffic. It turns out that Pacific Anna, a crude oil tanker vessel registered under the flag of Marshall Islands, aligns with the details provided by the fishermen,” the PCG said.

It also intends to “reach out to the flag of the vessel and the next port that the vessel will visit, to be boarded by port state control officers.”

PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, however, said the details they have initially gathered are not yet conclusive. “We are still conducting an investigation and that we are treating this matter as a maritime incident,” he said.

“The PCG is committed to ensuring a thorough and