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Victims from ‘Chinese’ ramming now 1 dead, 1 injured, 4 missing


A fisherman was killed, another was injured, and four more are missing after their fishing boat was rammed by an alleged Chinese vessel 160 nautical miles from the Panatag Shoal, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Sunday.
 
NDRRMC Executive Director and concurrent Office of Civil Defense Administrator Benito Ramos said at least four fishermen, including the dead and injured ones, were recovered from the incident off Magsingal town in Ilocos Sur province.
 
In its 6 A.M. report, the NDRRMC said the Philippine fishing boat, "Axl John," was anchored at a payaw, or artificial fish shelter, when the ramming occurred.
 
Ramos recounted that the Axl John departed Bolinao town to fish around 1 A.M. last June 18. The fishing boat was painted orange, yellow and green and was owned by Jonalyn Honrada.
 
On June 20, Hondrada received a call from the boat informing her that they were rammed by a “Chinese vessel” while at anchor, damaging and eventually sinking the Philippine fishing boat.
 
Still missing and the subject of a search and rescue operation are Fred Celino, Arnold Garcia, Domy delos Santos, and Amante Resonable.
 
Posio Balmores, a certain Christopher a.k.a. Udo, Boy Balmores and Celino Damian, were rescued off Magsingal town in Ilocos Sur and promptly taken to the hospital.  Christopher later died.
 
All the fishermen aboard the Axl John are from Bolinao town in Pangasinan. 
 
Asked how certain the survivors were that those who rammed them were Chinese, Ramos said that the survivors described the ramming crew as “Chinese-looking”.
 
“We actually do not know if they are from Taiwan because Chinese and Taiwanese look the same,” he said.
 
Ramos went on to explain that it was hard to determine whether the ramming was intentional or not as sea conditions were rough at the time because of a storm surge.
 
“That’s the mystery. If it was accidental, they should have helped [the sunk Filipino fishermen],” said Ramos.
 
Also, he added that it was hard to say if the ramming was intentional because it has a “diplomatic repercussion” as the site of the incident is near the Scarborough Shoal, where a standoff between Chinese and Filipino ships broke out last April 10. — DVM, GMA News
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