Boat collision in Occidental Mindoro to be investigated under Philippine laws — Palace

Malacañang on Monday said the investigation on the collision between a Filipino fishing boat and a Hong Kong-flagged cargo vessel off the coast of Occidental Mindoro will follow Philippine laws.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the matter will be resolved under the country’s maritime laws because the collision happened in Philippine territorial waters.

“There is no international law application here other than foreign flag ships can sail through under the concept of innocent passage,” he said in a televised briefing.

“But as far as the accountability is concerned, mga Pilipino po ang magdidesisyon diyan dahil ang banggaan po ay nangyari po sa ating karagatan.”

He also said the sea mishap had no diplomatic implications.

“Alam ninyo po, ang rules ng banggaan sa karagatan, parehong-pareho rin po iyan ng rules na ina-apply kapag may banggaan sa kalye. So wala naman pong malaking implikasyon iyan. Banggaan lang po iyan,” he said.

Fourteen people were still missing following the collision between the fishing boat Liberty 5 and the MV Vienna Wood cargo vessel on Sunday morning. They are now the subject of a search and rescue operation by the Philippine Coast Guard.

The cargo vessel was on its way to Australia from Subic while the fishing boat was on its way to the Navotas Fish Port when the incident took place. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News