PCG head said collision between Hong Kong cargo ship, fishing boat just an accident

The head of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday agreed that the collision between a fishing boat and a Hong Kong cargo vessel off the Occidental Mindoro coast was just an accident.

“Yes, definitely,” PCG commandant Vice Admiral George Ursabia Jr. said  in a press conference when asked if he shares the same view of Malacañang about the collision.

“’Yung area na ‘yan, highway ‘yan sa dagat. Ihahalintulad lang natin sa highway dito sa lupa. They are users of the sea. While navigating, nagbangaan. Ganun lang kasimple ‘yung logic niyan,” he added.

Ursabia believes that MV Vienna Wood did not intend to collide with the FV Liberty 5.

“Hindi naman ganun na sinadya. I think that is very unfair kasi sa mga marinero naman, it's a criminal act to do that. I don't think na sinadya 'yun. Nagkataon lang na that's a sea lane. That's a highway,” he said.

Ursabia noted that the case is still under investigation, which is set to finish in five to seven days. PCG personnel already started the probe on Monday.

But the Coast Guard chief said MV Vienna may face criminal and civil liabilities for not giving immediate help to the fishing boat after the incident.

“We have this state control system. We have this Tokyo MOU that we had in the region. Through such system, we immediately inform the flag state, the ship owner, and other concern parties,” he said.

“We already detained the vessel effective yesterday. It is under detention already through the PSC (Port State Control) system,” he added.

Ursabia said the counterparts in China have been cooperative throughout the process so far.

The incident happened at 10:22 p.m. on Saturday. PCG received the distress signal from the cargo ship at 1:46 a.m. on Sunday.

Fourteen people were reported missing. —LDF, GMA News