By Junex Doronio
MANILA –Was it a “hit and run” case in the Subic Sea?
This question was raised on Friday after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said they had identified two “vessels of interest” that may have collided with a Filipino fishing boat last July 3 in the waters of Subic, Zambales which left one fisherman still missing.
“Ang gusto natin malaman dito ay kung nakita ba nila [binangga] yung bangka, at kung nakita nila ay huminto ba o umiwas o anong ginawa nila, nag hit and run ba?”
PCG spokesperson Armand Balilo asked
He said that based on their vessel tracking system, the two vessels that passed through the collision site and are now considered vessels of interest are the Yong Fa Men and Melai Lan Hu, both of which are China-flagged bulk carriers.
The PCG said it has also written to the Chinese Embassy to request the China Maritime Safety Agency to cooperate in their investigation.
The said vessels are now in Adang Bay in Indonesia.
Fisherman Robert Mondeñedo was rescued, but authorities are still searching for his companion and brother Jose Mondeñedo.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) report, the two brothers departed from Barangay Wawandaue in Subic on July 1 aboard the fishing banca “John Robert” to reach their payao near Sampaloc Point for a fishing trip.
But on July 3 (Wednesday), around 3 p.m., an unidentified vessel collided with their boat.
The PCG reported that Robert survived the collision by clinging to their payao for three days until he was rescued by another fishing boat, “Irish Mae,” at around 8 a.m. on July 6.
(el Amigo/mnm)
