Pangasinan Coast Guard Station Commander Alex Corpuz | The Source - video Dailymotion

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The fishing trip of Filipino fishermen turns deadly after their boat is rammed by a foreign vessel off Bajo de Masinloc. The government vows justice for the three Filipino fishermen who perished.  Pinky Webb speaks with Pangasinan Coast Guard Station Commander Alex Corpuz.  Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/  Follow our social media pages:  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines

Transcript

00:00 Welcome to The Source where we combine the headlines with in-depth conversations with

00:06 the newsmakers themselves. I'm Pinky Webb. Today on the program, the fishing trip of

00:12 Filipino fishermen turns deadly after their boat is rammed by a foreign vessel off Bajo

00:18 de Masinloc. The government vows justice for the three Filipino fishermen who perished.

00:23 Pangasinan Coast Guard Station Commander Alex Corpus joins us in the program. And later,

00:29 a coalition of advocates sets up fundraising drives to honor and support fisherfolks in

00:36 the West Philippine Sea. Atinito campaign convener Ed De La Torre tells us more later

00:42 in the program.

00:53 Calls for justice resound after a suspected Marshall Islands registered vessel rammed

00:58 a Filipino fishing boat, killing three people. The incident took place off Bajo de Masinloc

01:04 on October 2 while the Filipino's watercraft was moored to an anchored fish float. Our

01:10 correspondent Tristan Nodalo spoke to a fisherman in Infanta, Pangasinan who was among the first

01:17 to rescue the survivors.

01:20 What was thought to be an ordinary call for help from fellow fishermen on Tuesday turned

01:25 out to be a devastating news for Antonio Guno.

01:38 Antonio was among the first to rescue the survivors following the ramming incident between

01:43 a foreign vessel and a Filipino fishing boat some 80 nautical miles from the Scarborough

01:47 Shoal. Of the 14 crew members of the fishing boat, four were Antonio's relatives and friends.

02:15 So these were the small boats used by the survivors to reach the town of Infanta here

02:19 in Pangasinan. Witnesses and survivors tell us that the incident happened too fast and

02:24 they were lucky enough to be out of the foreign vessel's path.

02:28 The Coast Guard station in Pangasinan says the site of the incident is a navigational

02:32 lane which means commercial vessels pass through it and fishing is not prohibited.

02:37 "They would appear on radar as small, would-mistake-it, like a combination of alloys. The commercial

02:44 vessels run fast. And then the fishing boat is tied to the buoy. So they don't have time

02:49 to remove the tie from the buoy. So it was like a big lacery."

02:53 "They should have seen a fishing vessel with lights. If they didn't see it, they should

03:00 have just gone. We were small, they were big. If they saw it, it was like nothing happened.

03:07 You just went through."

03:08 The Coast Guard adds that there should be a thorough investigation to avoid speculations.

03:13 The PCG initially reported that the oil tanker named Pacific Ana and registered in Marshall

03:18 Islands was in the area during the fatal incident.

03:21 "The oil crude tanker was already in the area about that particular time. But this

03:28 is a long investigation and we will be suspicious because we don't want to make any assumptions

03:34 even though we suspect that we will look at the circumstances."

03:38 The remains of the three fishermen were brought to Subic Town in Zambales along with the survivors.

03:43 For Antonio, he can only hope for justice.

03:46 "Whatever the reason, they should be punished. It's a real shame."

03:52 The question now is who will extend assistance to the families of those who perished, considering

03:57 that the captain who owned the Filipino fishing boat was among the fatalities.

04:01 Tres Tanudalo, CNN Philippines, in Fanta, Pangasinan.

04:06 And let's go straight to the source of the story. We have Pangasinan PCG Station Commander

04:11 Alex Corpuz. Sir Alex, welcome to the source. Thank you so much for your time, sir.

04:16 "Yes, ma'am. Good morning. Good morning, sir. Commander Corpuz of the line."

04:20 "Commander, can you just give us or tell us the latest in the investigation on that

04:26 collision that led to the death of the three Filipino fishermen near Scarborough Shoal?"

04:30 "Yes, ma'am. As of yesterday, the initial interview was finished. That's just part of

04:37 the series of interviews for the investigation of our marine consulting investigation team.

04:43 They are under the Maritime Safety Services Command based in Cavite. After that, the max

04:52 days that the team leader of the investigating team said is five days. From here in Pangasinan

04:59 area, we will forward this to the headquarters so that we can have an extensive investigation.

05:07 It's a bit different country involved in this because the foreign vessel is registered

05:16 in the Philippines. We will do everything to determine who is the culprit in this incident."

05:25 "But it was already said, sir. I hope you can give some more clarity here. The Philippine

05:32 Coast Guard was initially saying that during the monitoring in the area on Monday at 4

05:39 a.m. or 4.20 a.m., it appears that this oil tanker, Pacific Ana, registered under the

05:48 Marshall Islands, could have been the one responsible for the collision. Could have

05:55 been who by it? Or is it already sure that it is Pacific Ana?"

06:00 "Yes, ma'am. Until the final result of our investigation is released, we still have

06:07 to do a near speculation. But if that's what the higher headquarters sees, if that's

06:14 the vessel, it will be part of the investigation. They will be given the right to function."

06:24 "So as the spokesperson of the PCG, Armand Balillo was telling us, further investigation

06:33 is still needed. But there's two things here, sir, that possibly points to this oil

06:41 tanker. One is, he was there in the vicinity when the collision happened. And number two,

06:47 supposedly, this is also what is being shown as a testimony by the survivors?"

06:54 "Yes, ma'am. That's what we have been told. At my level, at the provincial level,

07:03 we have higher headquarters who will still determine what vessel really collided with

07:12 him. At my level, at the provincial level, we have higher headquarters."

07:18 "I understand."

07:19 "Yes, ma'am. We cannot disclose what vessel it was unless the final result of our investigation is released."

07:26 "So, Commander Corpus, just tell us, what were the fishermen telling you? Of course,

07:32 we have already some initial report on this. But could you share with us more information?

07:39 We understand that the mothership was anchored. And then around eight of the crew, or the

07:48 fishermen, were in different locations while the mothership was anchored, dear Nijo?"

08:01 "Dearin."

08:02 "Dearin, sorry. Yes. Can you tell us more about what the fishermen, the survivors, were telling you?"

08:09 "Yes, ma'am. According to our investigation, on 26 September, they departed from Subic.

08:18 They arrived at the incident area on 30 September. They reached there at a bad time.

08:27 They were in their bayou, the bayou where the mothership was anchored. Technically, they cannot anchor here

08:34 because it's too deep. So what they did was they tied their fishing boat to the bayou to secure it

08:42 so they cannot be hit. That's what our fishermen usually do. They tie their fishing boat to the bayou.

08:50 Now, on October 2, around 4.20 a.m., the weather is still bad. They are still tied there. It's raining.

09:02 The waves are strong. Visibility is restricted. According to our investigation, they were surprised

09:10 when a commercial vessel suddenly hit them. They don't have time to leave the place because

09:20 these commercial vessels run fast. Considering the weather condition there, the weather is bad.

09:30 It's a bad day. It's dark.

09:33 "Understandable, sir. But even if it's a small vessel, doesn't it have light?"

09:43 "Yes, ma'am. As per regulation, our vessels are mandated, like our fishing vessels,

09:52 that when it's dark, or they are anchored or rigged in the fishing structure of the sea like the bayou,

10:00 they should display all white round lights and wear screw loose of the load.

10:07 In the commercial vessel, they have a way to leave the place. For example, the lookout cannot see the boats.

10:20 But there are circumstances where it's dark, the weather is bad, and visibility is restricted.

10:28 They cannot see the passage of the boat properly."

10:32 "But, Commander, does the sea hadiri have light?"

10:37 "Yes, according to the investigation, they have a display of light. That's what the investigation says."

10:45 "And in a situation like this, they said they were surprised.

10:50 I guess what you're saying is that this story is coming from the sea hadiri, the mothership.

10:57 Is that right? Because they are supposed to be 14.

11:01 The 8 were fishing in other areas, from what I understand from the initial report coming from the Philippine Coast Guard.

11:10 And there are 6 that were left in the mothership. Is that right?

11:15 3 died out of 6. So these 3 are the ones who said they were surprised

11:20 and they saw that there was a big ship that was about to hit them?"

11:27 "Yes, ma'am. Usually, our commercial vessels, our fishing vessels, they have small boats.

11:36 That's where their catchers are. And the mothership is where their catchers are.

11:44 What happened is that the 3 boatmen, including the captain, they were the ones who were hit.

11:53 After that, they recovered. They were hit by a small boat.

11:59 These 3 were the ones who were hit."

12:02 "In total, were there 14? How many were in the mothership and how many were in the smaller boats?"

12:11 "Ma'am, according to us, there were 14 crew members, including the crew of the small boat.

12:21 3 were in the wake. So, there were 11 survivors."

12:27 "Okay. And how were the 11?"

12:32 "Yes, ma'am. Yesterday, we were able to contact the local health unit of Infanta, Pangasinan.

12:41 That was a big help to get medical assistance.

12:45 Out of the 11 survivors, only one was hit in the leg.

12:52 But he wasn't fatal. And then, the 3 boatmen were taken to the funerary.

13:00 And immediately, we were able to find the survivors."

13:07 "And were the survivors already in Subic? Even the labi?"

13:12 "Yes, ma'am. After the interview yesterday, they were already on their way to Subic."

13:18 "And what happens after this, Commander, in terms of possible cases that will be filed?

13:26 Will this be personally from the families of the survivors?

13:33 Is this going to be on behalf of the Philippine Coast Guard? How is the moving forward?"

13:40 "Yes, ma'am. After here in Pangasinan, we will forward it to the headquarters.

13:48 We will also coordinate with the DFA. They will inform the owner if the boat has been determined.

13:54 And there, there will be a negotiation on the owner's liability

13:59 for the death of our 3 boatmen."

14:05 "But Commander, it's just one of two things, right? Either it was intentional or it was an accident?"

14:15 "Yes, ma'am. It's like that.

14:19 For us, as a Coast Guard, and as a former CPL,

14:28 and I also came from commercial vessels, foreign vessels,

14:34 as part of the owners of the boat,

14:36 they are avoiding these kinds of incidents because it has a big implication on them.

14:42 We will take note that the boat involved here will know that it's really theirs.

14:48 It will have a big impact on their rental or charter.

14:56 Considering that there are no attempts of search and rescue operation."

15:01 "Right. Right.

15:04 Commander, sorry to interrupt you there.

15:07 That's actually what I wanted to ask you.

15:09 Because like I said, I'm assuming it's just one of two things,

15:14 either it was an accident or it was intentional.

15:18 Because that's also where the question is going, what you're saying,

15:23 why is there no help?

15:25 Why did they not help whoever this oil tanker man that is being suspected is?

15:32 Because the one who helped the fishermen was our fellow fishermen, right?

15:40 They were the ones who retrieved the bodies."

15:43 "Yes, ma'am.

15:46 Under the SOLAS Convention, under Regulation 33, distress messages,

15:53 for example, if there's a distress vessel or distress person,

15:58 for example, if there's a person who fell,

16:00 it is mandated by the convention that the closest vessel,

16:05 regardless if they are stranded or not,

16:08 they are the first ones to respond and rescue the distress persons in the event.

16:17 This is the initial violation we saw of the vessel.

16:21 But with regards to the demise of our three fishermen,

16:24 that's what will be interpreted as the level of liability of the owner."

16:32 "And if that is the protocol, Commander, the ship could say that we didn't see it.

16:41 Is that a good defense?

16:44 Does that work?

16:47 I ask that, sir, because isn't there a radar?

16:52 I understand it's dark, it's 4 in the morning, the weather is bad,

16:58 but there's light, but then again, I don't know the situation at sea.

17:03 But is there a chance that the mothership didn't really see the wreck?"

17:13 "Yes, ma'am.

17:14 In my own opinion, based on my experience as a former seafarer,

17:20 there's a high possibility that the commercial vessel didn't notice it.

17:25 But I'm not sure.

17:28 I will mention the responsibility under the rules of the road.

17:34 This is also a convention.

17:35 As per the responsibility, part A, nothing in this rule shall exonerate any vessel or the owner, master or crew,

17:46 thereof from the consequences of any neglect to comply with the rules of the neglect of any precaution

17:54 which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen or by the special circumstances of the case."

18:01 This means that the owner or your crew is not exempted if this happens.

18:08 If there's a collision or for this matter, an allusion, the owner and crew are not exempted.

18:14 They can say that they didn't see it because our navigators should maintain a proper lookout.

18:22 Regardless of the circumstances or weather conditions in that area.

18:29 So even if they say that they didn't see it and it was an accident,

18:33 it doesn't exonerate them from any liability or responsibility in the incident.

18:39 We'll continue to monitor the situation and get updates regarding this, of course,

18:45 from the headquarters of the Philippine Coast Guard.

18:49 In the meantime, Panga Sinan, PCG Station Commander. Alex Corpus, sir, thank you very much for your time.

18:55 Thank you, too. Good morning.

18:58 And coming up, as tensions in the West Philippine Sea escalate,

19:01 a newly formed group launches a donation drive to support local fishers.

19:06 We speak to Ate Nito, Campaign Convener, Ed De La Torre.

19:10 After the break, this is The Source on CNN Philippines. Please stay tuned.

19:14 [Music]

Pangasinan Coast Guard Station Commander Alex Corpuz | The Source

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