Lawmaker: PH needs more patrol boats

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said the deaths of three Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc due to the ramming of their boat highlights the need for more Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrols in Philippines waters.

“Today, the PCG said the foreign commercial vessel was identified as the Pacific Anna, a crude oil tanker registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands. Given that commercial vessels have the right of innocent passage, the incident could have been prevented if there were more PCG patrols in Bajo de Masinloc, aside from preventing such accidents they can also be more effective in protecting our waters and our fisherfolk,” she said.

“Besides harassment of Filipino fisherfolk by China’s coast guard and militia have been happening for years and many were documented,” she added

A surviving crew member of the fishing boat Dearyn said their mother boat was rammed on Monday 4:30 a.m. while it was preparing to fish 85 nautical miles northwest of the shoal.

The mother boat sank, killing three of its crew members, including its captain.

“This is a well known fact and many previous  incidents have also been well  documented. Of course, we cannot forget what happened to the Gem Ver 1 fishing vessel as well as the incidents of Chinese coast guard water blasting Filipino fishing boats,” Castro said.

“In the last Congress we even filed House Resolution No. 8 to investigate the ramming by a Chinese vessel of Gem-Ver 1 and leaving its crew at sea. Then Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, said then that it was fake news but in fact Chinese attacks against Filipino fishermen are increasing,” she said.