RAMMING INCIDENT. The remains of one of the three Filipino fisherfolk who died in a ramming incident off the Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea is transported in Barangay Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan on Tuesday (Oct. 3, 2023). The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that an unidentified foreign vessel rammed into a Filipino fishing boat off the Bajo de Masinloc on Monday (Oct. 2). (Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)

MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday vowed to assist the Filipino fishermen whose fishing boat was rammed by an unidentified commercial vessel transiting the waters off Bajo de Masinloc.

This, after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that three crew members of the Filipino fishing vessel died, including its boat captain.

“We are deeply saddened by the deaths of the three fishermen, including the captain of the fishing vessel,” Marcos said in a statement posted on his official X account.

“Rest assured that the government will provide support and assistance to the victims and their families,” he added.

According to the PCG, the incident occurred at 4:20 a.m. Monday an unidentified foreign commercial vessel rammed the Filipino fishing boat identified as FFB Dearyn while it was moored to a payao or anchored fish float 85 nautical miles northwest of the Bajo de Masinloc.

Eleven crew members survived the incident by using their eight service boats to leave the vicinity waters and transport the deceased victims to Barangay Cato in Infanta, Pangasinan.

Marcos said the PCG is currently backtracking and checking all monitored vessels in the area as part of its ongoing investigation.

He asked the public to refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime and let the PCG do its job and investigate.

“The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and a still unidentified commercial vessel,” Marcos said.

“We assure the victims, their families, and everyone that we will exert every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for this unfortunate maritime incident,” he added.

Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction, according to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration on July 12, 2016 affirmed Bajo de Masinloc as a traditional fishing ground of Filipino fisherfolk. (PNA)