Philippines’ MANILA On October 2, Senator Francis Tolentino declared that he will ask the Senate to launch an investigation into the deaths of the three Filipino fisherman off the coast of Agno, Pangasinan.
Inconsolable families of Dexter Laudencia, Romeo Mejico, and Benedicto Olandria, who perished after their boat, Dearyn, was rammed by a foreign commercial vessel, were visited by Tolentino on Friday.
The senator stated that he is awaiting the findings of the investigation to learn more about the crude oil tanker that struck the Filipino fishing boat that was initially named Pacific Anna and registered in the Marshall Islands.
He also stated that the Senate should look into the occurrence in light of the current debate over legislation designating the nation’s “archipelagic sea lanes.”
Similar marine mishaps can be avoided by designating a clear sea path, he noted.
“Setting up the archipelagic sea routes is the goal here. This would need a clearly defined passageway where large local, foreign, and international ships would pass so that our fishermen would know where to go and where to avoid one another, Tolentino said.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the foreign vessel may not have noticed the Filipino fishing boat owing to the darkness and bad weather, and the incident was deemed to be accidental by the authorities.
The incident also took place in the area of the sea that is traveled by large commercial ships.
