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]
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