PCG chief Abu: Ramming incident not linked to WPS issue

The ramming incident that led to the death of three Filipino fishermen has nothing to do with the situation in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Philippine Coast Guard commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said Thursday.

“It has nothing to do with the issue in the West Philippine Sea,” Abu told reporters in an ambush interview.

He also clarified that the location of the incident is approximately 180 nautical miles off Agno, Pangasinan.

During a public briefing, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela also said that the incident did not happen within the immediate vicinity of Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc contrary to what they earlier mentioned.

The PCG said Wednesday that the Filipino fishing boat was moored 85 nautical miles northwest of Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, when it was rammed by an oil tanker registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

"I would like to clarify also na ito ay nangyari sa karagatan ng Pangasinan. It is not within the immediate vicinity ng Bajo de Masinloc. I would like to correct that statement na una naming nailabas na inuugnay ito sa Bajo de Masinloc," Tarriela said.

(I would like to clarify also that this happened off the waters of Pangasinan. It is not within the immediate vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc. I would like to correct that earlier statement mentioning Bajo de Masinloc.)

"But definitely if you are going to plot iyong area kung saan nabangga itong ating mangingisda, ito ay may distansya na 180 nautical miles from Agno, Pangasinan. So mas malapit siya sa Pangasinan kumpara sa Bajo de Masinloc," he added.

(But definitely if you are going to plot the area where the fishermen were rammed, the distance is 180 nautical miles from Agno, Pangasinan. So it is nearer Pangasinan than Bajo de Masinloc.)

Abu said he already ordered a marine casualty investigation and had already invited the survivors of the incident to Manila so the probers can get the information first hand.

“Nagbigay ako ng instruction to request the survivors to be here in Manila para mas madali ang pagkuha natin ng impormasyon. At our expense. Tayo ang magbabayad sa pagpunta nila dito para naman masiguro natin na first hand ‘yung information na makuha natin,” Abu said.

(I already instructed my men to request the survivors to come here in Manila so we can easily get first-hand information for the investigation. We will shoulder their travel expenses.)

Three Filipino fishermen were killed when their fishing boat was rammed by Pacific Anna, a crude oil tanker registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

The PCG said one crew member of FFB Dearyn shared that the incident happened before dawn on Monday, October 2.

The boat submerged, resulting in the death of its 47-year-old captain and two crew members aged 38 and 62, the PCG said. All the fatalities are residents of Zambales province.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News