The provincial board of Palawan has issued a resolution condemning the captain of the Hong Kong-based M/V Vienna Wood that rammed a Filipino fishing boat on June 27 leaving its crew and passengers missing.
The resolution’s authors pointed to the findings of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that the Chinese fishing boat did not extend any effort to save the crew of F/V Liberty 5 following the collision, and that it took three hours before they reported the incident to local maritime authorities.
Board Member Angela Sabando, principal author of the resolution, said the Chinese crew deliberately did not help the Filipino fishermen when their boat capsized.
“Kung titingnan natin it took three hours bago nila ini-report ang insidente. Parang hindi naman po tama [kumbaga] pinabayaan po nila ang ating mga kababayan,” Sabando said.
(It took them three hours to report the incident. It was uncalled for that they did not even help our fishermen.)
“We condemn the failure of the foreign vessel officials and crew to conduct humanitarian assistance to the capsized Filipinos on the fishing boat,” Sabando said.
The 14 missing crew and passengers have been identified as Jose Magnes Alfonso, Renante Dahon, Reynil Magura, Miguel Booc, Joeffry Bantog, Jeerom Alaska, Michael Flores, Jayson Vigonte, Adrian Resort Amogod, Bartolome Oab Jr., Herbert Dalabajan, Reynald Riparip, Ariel Tabang and Edwardo Manipot Jr.
FV Liberty 5 was reportedly headed to Navotas from Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi when the incident happened while the MV Vienna Wood which was not loaded was en route to Australia from Subic.
Sabando also demanded that the Chinese vessel should pay for the damage it had caused.
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