Phl fishing boat rammed by unknown vessel in WPS

A wooden Filipino fishing boat was allegedly rammed by an unidentified vessel in the vicinity of the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea last Jan. 30.

- EVELYN MACAIRAN

Five of its fishermen were rescued by a passing Vietnamese ship 17 days after the incident. Three other fishermen are still missing.

Lt. Commander Michael John Encina, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deputy spokesperson and Bataan Station commander, said that the wooden fishing boat FBCA Prince Elmo 2 was reportedly rammed by an unknown ship at around 8 p.m. of Jan. 30.

At around 3:15 p.m. of Feb. 16, the MV Dong An, a Vietnamese cargo vessel, was passing near the Spratly Islands and chanced upon five of the eight fishermen who were on the bow of Prince Elmo 2.

Atiko Trans Inc., the ship agent of Dong An, on Feb. 16 informed the PCG of the rescue and arranged a meet-up point.

At around 6 a.m. of Feb. 19, the Coast Guard's BRP Boracay, carrying medical and nursing personnel, proceeded to Mariveles, Bataan which was the agreed rendezvous point for the transfer of the five fishermen from the Dong An to the PCG ship.

Encina said the five fishermen were immediately returned to Naic, Cavite and reunited with their families.

Based on initial information they gathered from the rescued fishermen, they left Naic last Jan. 17 and planned to engage in fishing activities in Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro until Jan. 30.

But the strong winds caused by the amihan (northeast monsoon), which has been prevailing for weeks, reportedly dragged the Prince Elmo 2 to the WPS.

In the evening of Jan. 30, they were hit by an unidentified ship. There was reportedly no light onboard the boat because they did not want to scare away the fishes.

Encina said it was not certain that the ramming incident was intentional because some vessels go on autopilot and might not have noticed the small boat, which was estimated to be only around three gross tons.