Chinese ship may be culprit in hitting PH boat in West Philippine Sea – PCG

PCG personnel recover the FBCA John Robert, which capsized after being hit by an unidentified vessel. —Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines — Either one of the two Chinese-flagged vessels present in the West Philippine Sea could be behind the allision that led to the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat there last week, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday.

A maritime incident is described as an “allision” when a moving vessel hits a stationary boat.

“Yes, we have two vessels of interest,” PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo told INQUIRER.net by phone.

Balilo said the suspected Chinese bulk carriers were identified as Yong Fa Men and Mei Lan Hu.

READ: Filipino fisher missing in West PH Sea after boat hit by ‘unidentified’ ship

Based on the PCG’s Automatic Identification System, these vessels were located in the same area when the allision occurred.

When asked if only one of the two Chinese vessels hit the fishing boat, Balilo said: “Yes, there were two vessels of interest initially, but the fisherman’s account points to Yong Fa Men.”

Both ships are currently in the waters off Adang Bay, Indonesia.

Balilo said they are now preparing letters for the China Maritime Safety Administration and Indonesian Port State Control.

He also said that they had informed the Chinese embassy about the incident.

READ: Tolentino: Fisher who survived ‘hit-and-run’ at Bajo de Masinloc recovering

Filipino fishing boat Fbca John Robert was hit by a ship about 62 nautical miles southeast off Sampaloc Point in Subic, Zambales last July 3, causing it to sink.

Balilo said 47-year-old Robert Mondoñedo survived after being rescued on July 6.

“He held on to their payao for three days,” the PCG said of the surviving fisherfolk, referring to a fishing aggregate device.

However, his brother Jose Mondoñedo remains missing.

Balilo said a search and rescue operation for the missing fisherman is ongoing.