Three Filipino fishermen were killed after their boat was hit by an oil tanker registered in the Marshall Islands while crossing the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday.
Boat Sinking
The incident occurred on Monday while the boat was anchored in waters 157 km northwest of the disputed Scarborough Shoal, the PCG said in a statement.
Eleven crew members survived the sinking by using eight service boats to leave the area and transport the deceased to the Infanta municipality in the Pangasinan province, it added.
A Filipino crew member of a vessel called Dearyn told officials that the incident occurred around 4:20 a.m. on Monday morning, when the vessel was fishing with its “mother boat.”
We are deeply saddened by the deaths of the three fishermen, including the captain of the fishing vessel. The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and a still unidentified commercial… pic.twitter.com/VKe1eUkiIy
— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) October 4, 2023
“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,” said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
He added that the PCG is currently in the process of “checking all monitored vessels in the area as part of its ongoing investigation.”
He assured the families of the victims that his government “will exert every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for this unfortunate maritime incident.” Additionally, Marcos Jr. urged people to “refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime.”
Tensions with China
The incident comes days after the PCG said it removed a floating barrier installed by China near the contested Scarborough Shoal. The PCG said the barrier posed a navigational hazard and was “a clear violation of international law.”
“It also hinders the conduct of fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk,” it added, calling the shoal “an integral part of the Philippine national territory.” No skirmish was reported following the incident.
Last month, Manila also said that it is looking into possibly filing a new lawsuit against China at an international tribunal following reports of the Asian superpower harvesting and destroying corals in the disputed West Philippine Sea.