Chinese vessel, Filipino boat in Occidental Mindoro incident reach settlement

A Chinese-flagged bulk carrier vessel and a Filipino boat involved in a maritime incident in Occidental Mindoro have reached an amicable settlement, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday.

PCG deputy spokesperson Lieutenant Junior Grade Jherich John Ybañez said the camp of FBCA Ruel J accepted the settlement for loss and damage with MV TAI HANG 8.

“Nag-reach po sila ng amicable settlement wherein the owner of the boat has accepted full settlement for all the loss and damage,” he said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing.

(An amicable settlement has been reached wherein the owner of the boat has accepted full settlement for all the loss and damage.)

On December 5, five Filipino fishermen were rescued after the Chinese vessel supposedly hit their boat in the waters near Paluan, Occidental Mindoro.

According to the PCG, the boat was lying in Paluan waters attached to a ‘payao’ (a type of fish aggregating device used in the Philippines) when they were hit by the Chinese boat. 

The fishermen were identified as Junrey Sardan, Ryan Jay Daus, Bryan Pangatungam, Cristian Arizala, and Joshua Barbas.

The owner of the distressed boat, Jaziel Salinas, earlier appealed for help from the management of the foreign ship as the incident negatively impacted their livelihood.

The PCG then reported the incident to the Port State Control office "in adherence to maritime incident procedures.” 

The owner of the distressed boat, Jaziel Salinas earlier, appealed for help from the management of the foreign ship as the incident negatively impacted their livelihood.  –Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News