Chinese-flagged vessel rams fishing boat off Mindoro: PCG

A Chinese-flagged cargo vessel hit a fishing boat manned by five Filipino fishermen off Paluan, Occidental Mindoro last Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.

The five fishermen – Junrey Sardan, Ryan Jay Daus, Bryan Pangatungam, Cristian Arizala, and Joshua Barbas – were rescued by another fishing boat, the PCG said.

Capt. Edyson Abanilla, commander of the Coast Guard Station Occidental Mindoro, said the boat, FBCA Ruel J, was hit by the foreign vessel at 4:05 p.m. last Tuesday some 25 nautical miles from Paluan.

“According to the boat captain, it was Tai Hang that hit their fishing banca,” said Abanila, referring to MV Tai Hang 8 which is registered under the flag of China.

Abanilla said a backtracking investigation showed MV Tai Hang indeed passed the area at the time of the incident.

Jaziel Juano, owner of FBCA Ruel J, said the crew members of the fishing boat told her their boat was attached to a payaw or fish aggregating device when it was hit by MV Tai Hang 8.

“They were resting at that time, waiting to resume fishing,” said Juano in Filipino. “They were not expecting they will be hit by the (cargo) vessel).”

Juano said the crew members deployed a service boat and hastily boarded it when the cargo vessel did not change its course.

“Though they were already in the service boat, they were thrown away due to the impact,” said Juano.

The distressed fishermen were later rescued by fishing boats in the area and brought to Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, the PCG said.

“The rescued fishermen were properly turned over to their immediate families, and the captain and owner of the fishing banca were advised to file a marine protest,” the PCG said in a statement.

Juano asked authorities to help her and the crew members of FBCA Ruel J in seeking compensation from MV Tai Hang 8.

“We are asking for help on how to go after the vessel for the damage it left on our boat because I have a family depending on the boat. The crew members also have families,” said Juano.

Last October, the Marshal Island-flagged oil tanker Pacific Ana hit a fishing boat off Agno, Pangasinan, causing the death of three fishermen.