Kin of 14 missing Pinoys onboard FV Liberty 5 to receive P1M each, PCG chief says

Philippine Coast Guard commandant Admiral George Ursabia on Thursday announced that the families of the 14 Filipinos onboard the FV Liberty 5, who went missing after a collision incident in June, are set to receive compensation from Hong Kong-flagged cargo vessel MV Vienna Wood.

“Kahapon nandito ang may-ari ng FV Liberty 5 para ibalita sa amin na nagkasundo na sila ng may-ari ng MV Vienna Wood na magkaroon na sila ng settlement for damages incurred,” the PCG chief said in a virtual briefing.

Ursabia said on August 24, the stakeholders of the two vessels would hold a formal settlement on the damages brought by the maritime incident in the vicinity waters off Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.

“We will be the one hosting the settlement of the two parties,” he said.

The PCG chief noted that the kin of the 12 missing Filipino fishermen and two other passengers of FV Liberty 5 would receive compensations amounting to P1 million each from MV Vienna Wood.

“That’s highly acceptable naman raw,” Ursabia said.

On the other hand, the Irma Fishing and Trading Corporation, the owner of FV Liberty 5, will also receive a settlement amount of P40 million from MV Vienna Wood to cover the cost of the distressed fishing vessel, Ursabia said.

The collision between the foreign vessel Vienna Wood with Philippine fishing boat Liberty 5 happened at 10:20 p.m. of June 27.

The search and retrieval operations for the 14 Filipinos onboard the fishing vessel formally ended last July 7.

Criminal complaints had been lodged against the shipping company, master, and officers of the foreign vessel. A hold departure order was also issued against the crew to ensure that MV Vienna Wood's bulk carrier will remain under the Philippines' custody.—AOL, GMA News