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Coast Guard: 3 killed in ramming incident near Scarborough

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Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News 

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2829193" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><h3>Marcos tells public: Refrain from speculating for now </h3><p>MANILA<strong> (4th UPDATE) </strong>— Three fishers were killed after a ship, believed to be the Marshall Islands-flagged Pacific Anna, rammed a fishing boat off Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday. </p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured the crew and their families that the government will seek accountability for the incident but also cautioned the public from speculation on what happened and who was involved.</p><p>In a statement, the PCG said the captain of the fishing boat Dearyn was among those killed when it sank after the collision 85 nautical miles — 157.42 kilometers — from Bajo de Masinloc.</p><p>Eleven members of the crew survived the incident, which happened around 4:20 a.m. last Monday.</p><p>A member of the crew told the Coast Guard that the fishing boat was moored to a payao — a floating fish aggregating device — when the collision happened.</p><p>The crew members brought the bodies of those killed to Barangay Cato in Infanta, Pangasinan using their service boats and arrived there on Tuesday morning. </p><p>In a report, the PCG said they already identified the crude oil tanker vessel that supposedly collided with the fishing boat. This was cross-referenced with the fishermen&#x27;s account, date, and time. </p><p>&quot;We conducted a thorough check on marine traffic... It turns out that Pacific Anna, a crude oil tanker vessel registered under the flag of Marshall Island, aligns with the details provided by the fishermen,&quot; the report read. </p><p>The Coast Guard said it would reach out to the flag of the vessel, he said. They will also reach out to the next port that will be visited by the said vessel.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/04/23/pcg-names-ship-likely-involved-in-scarborough-collision">Coast Guard names ship likely involved in Scarborough collision</a></li></ul><div><strong>Incident happened during bad weather</strong></div><p>Alex Corpuz, the Coast Guard&#x27;s station commander in Pangasinan, said the incident happened during bad weather. </p><p>It is possible, Corpuz said, that some crew members died due to &quot;head trauma&quot; from the collision. </p><p>&quot;Ang sabi ng crew, madilim noon at medyo masama ang panahon at umuulan sa lugar. Ongoing yung investigation natin. May team tayo na pinapunta doon para malaman natin kung ano ang mga data na makukuha natin sa crew,&quot; Corpuz said over Radyo 630. </p><p>(The crew said it was dark, the weather was bad and it was raining. Our investigation is ongoing. We have sent a team there to get more information from the crew.)</p><p>&quot;Nakatali sila sa payao. Ang allegation, hindi sila nakaalis kaagad.&quot; </p><p>(They were still tied to the payao. The allegation is that they were not able to get out of the way in time.)</p><p>The PCG added in its report that the crew aboard the mother boat &quot;failed to detect an unidentified vessel approaching&quot; which resulted in the collision and for the boat to capsize. <br/> resulting in a collision that caused the mother boat to capsize. </p><div><strong>Marcos: Let&#x27;s let the Coast Guard investigate</strong></div><p>In a statement on social media site X [formerly Twitter], Marcos asked the public to refrain from making speculations on the incident.</p><p>Scarborough Shoal, where China last month put up a floating barrier that the Philippine Coast Guard removed, is a hotspot in the West Philippine Sea.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/27/23/defense-chief-scarborough-barrier-removed-for-maritime-safety">Defense chief: Scarborough barrier removed for maritime safety</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Let us allow the PCG to do its job and investigate, and let us refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime,&quot; Marcos said. </p><p>&quot;The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and a still unidentified commercial vessel,&quot; he added. </p><p>He assured the victims and their families that the government would hold accountable those responsible for the incident.</p><p>Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Tessa Daza, for her part, also urged the public to wait for the probe&#x27;s result. </p><p>&quot;Out of respect for the bereaved families, we consider it prudent to wait for the results of the investigation before making any further statements in this regard,&quot; she said. </p><p>The Department of Foreign Affairs also expressed their condolences to the families of the victims. </p><p>&quot;We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the families of our fisherfolk who perished in this tragic event at sea. The Philippine Coast Guard is conducting a thorough investigation to shed light on what transpired and to identify the vessel responsible,&quot; said the DFA in a statement.</p><div><strong>Legislators outraged</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, several lawmakers condemned the incident as they pressed for accountability over the sea mishap.</p><p>&quot;We are extremely outraged and aggrieved by the fatal ramming of an unidentified vessel on a Filipino fishing vessel in the West Philippine Sea, resulting in the loss of three innocent lives... We will not rest until we get to the bottom of this incident,&quot; Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said.</p><p>Zubiri would later share a PCG report identifying the alleged foreign vessel supposedly from the Marshall Islands.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/04/23/pcg-names-ship-likely-involved-in-scarborough-collision">Coast Guard names ship likely involved in Scarborough collision</a></li></ul><p>Sens. Risa Hontiveros, Jinggoy Estrada, and Grace Poe also echoed Zubiri&#x27;s call for investigation.</p><p>&quot;The authorities must conduct a comprehensive and unbiased investigation to ascertain the true circumstances surrounding this tragic event. The safety and well-being of our fishermen must always be a top priority, and those accountable for this incident must be held responsible for their actions,&quot; Estrada said.</p><p>&quot;I call on the authorities to leave no stone unturned. Kailangang mapanagot ang sinumang gumawa nito: sinuman sila, nasaan man sila. Hindi nila matatakasan ang batas,&quot; Hontiveros said.</p><p>&quot;Those found responsible must be meted the appropriate punishment. No one should escape the long arm of the law,&quot; Poe said.</p><p>House Speaker Martin Romualdez also urged Filipinos to &quot;come together as a nation to support one another, especially the families affected.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We urge all parties and nations with interests in the area to work cooperatively, uphold maritime laws and international principles, and prioritize the safety and welfare of all individuals at sea,&quot; Romualdez said.</p><div><strong> —With reports from RG Cruz and Jeff Caparas, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div> </div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2829018" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

It is possible, a Coast Guard official said, that some crew members died due to 'head trauma' from the collision. 

Coast Guard: 3 killed in ramming incident near Scarborough

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Coast Guard: 3 killed in ramming incident near Scarborough

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 04, 2023 10:39 AM PHT

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Updated October 04, 2023 10:01 PM PHT

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Philippine Coast Guard

Scarborough Shoal

Bajo de Masinloc

ramming incident

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