President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said that the government is exerting every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for the unfortunate incident in Bajo de Masinloc.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Marcos Jr. expressed his deep sadness over the deaths of three fishermen in a maritime collision with an unidentified commercial vessel.
“We are deeply saddened by the deaths of the three fishermen, including the captain of the fishing vessel,” Marcos Jr. said. “The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and the still unidentified commercial vessel.”
Marcos Jr. also urged the public to refrain from engaging in speculation while the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is conducting its investigation.
“Currently, the PCG is backtracking and checking all monitored vessels in the area as part of its ongoing investigation,” he said. “Let us allow the PCG to do its job and investigate, and let us refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime.”
The President also assured the victims, their families, and the public that the government will provide support and assistance to them.
“Rest assured that the government will provide support and assistance to the victims and their families,” he said.
Last 2 October, the PCG responded to a maritime incident involving a Filipino fishing boat rammed by an unidentified commercial vessel transiting the vicinity waters off Bajo de Masinloc.
One crew of FFB DEARYN shared that it occurred around 4:20 a.m. on Monday while their mother boat was moored to payao for fishing 85 nautical miles northwest of BDM.
The mother boat submerged, resulting in the death of its three crew members, including its boat captain.
The eleven crew members who survived the maritime incident utilized their eight service boats to leave the vicinity waters and transport the deceased victims to Barangay Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan.
They arrived around 10:00 a.m. yesterday, 3 October 2023, and reported the incident to the nearest Coast Guard substation for necessary assistance.