Coast Guard deputy chief orders probe on Romblon collision

Rear Admiral William Melad, deputy commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), said he directed the PCG station in Romblon to investigate the collision between a fishing boat and a shipping vessel in the water off the province early on Saturday and determine who was at fault.

Melad said the 20 survivors, all fishermen, were brought to the PCG Romblon station and were asked to narrate what happened. He said rescue teams were still scouring the area to find the lone missing fisherman.

The missing and the rescued were on board “FB Arnie Deca” and fishing in the waters of San Fernando, Romblon at around 5 a.m. on Saturday when they were hit by a passing passenger vessel.

The area where the accident happened is a known passage area for ships but is also a rich fishing ground, said Melad. He said the PCG has yet to validate if the ship involved was a 2Go passenger vessel as earlier reported.

He said it was possible that the passenger vessel was going southward heading for either Visayas or Manila.

“I have directed (the PCG) station in Manila to check if there was a vessel that arrived at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m yesterday. The incident happened at 5 a.m.,” Melad said.     He said the PCG would also investigate why the crew from the passenger vessel did not help the victims.

“Basically for mariners, there should be assistance provided except if it would endanger their passenger vessel. We will look into it,” Melad said.

Lito Salvio, vice president for Cebu-based 2Go Sea Travel, said in a phone interview that they would still have to identify if it was one of their ships that was involved in the accident in Romblon.

“We are still investigating. All are allegations,” he said