By BETHEENA UNITE
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THE Philippine Coast Guard has filed a motion to prevent the crew of MV Vienna Wood from going back to China while they face criminal charges following a collision with FV Liberty 5 whose crew is missing after 10 days of rescue and retrieval mission.
“Kahapon, nag-file na tayo ng motion para maiwasan natin ‘yung pagbalik sa China nung mga tripulante ng MV Vienna Wood, lalo na yung mga sinampahan natin ng kaso,” Vice Admiral George Ursabia, Coast Guard commandant, said.
Ursabia also disclosed that they will issue a hold departure order against the Chinese crewmen this week.
“Dahil ang gusto natin ay nasa kustodiya sila ng Pilipinas. Ginagawa po natin ang lahat, lalo na po ng mga abogado ng Coast Guard, ang trabaho na ito,” the PCG commandant vowed the families of the missing fishermen and representatives from the Ima Fishing and Trading Inc., who met with him Wednesday at the Coast Guard headquarters in Manila.
The Coast Guard has filed a criminal complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and damage to property against the owner, master, and officers of the Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier MV Vienna Wood.
Ursabia also offered help to Irma Fishing and Trading Inc., who owns the FV Liberty 5, and the affected families in filing a civil case against the MV Vienna Wood.
“From time to time, we will give you updates on the continued patrol operation and on the progress of the case. No matter how long it takes, we won’t drop the case,” the PCG commandant said.
The top Coast Guard official refuted claims that some of the victims were being kept inside the bulk carrier – the reason why no signs of life were found in the vicinity waters.
“Nahalughog po natin ang buong pasilidad ng MV Vienna Wood. Wala pong katotohanan ang mga balibalita na nasa loob nito ang ilan sa mga mangingisda na biktima ng insidente,” Ursabia said.
He also denied that China meddled with the case. “It’s clear that we have full jurisdiction because the incident happened in our territorial waters.”
Despite unsuccessful attempts to rescue and retrieve the bodies of the fishermen, Ursabia said they will continue to conduct patrol off Occidental Mindoro and monitoring in nearby shorelines and municipalities after ending full search and retrieval operations Tuesday.
“Sa ngayon, wala pa rin tayong nakita na katawan, but we cannot declare them dead. There is still a possibility that they are alive. It is too early to say that they are dead,” he said.
“Ang hiling ko lang po ay ipagdasal natin ang sitwasyon – na tulungan tayo ng Panginoon na alamin ang tamang paraan sa pagkamit ng hustisya. Gusto po nating makamit ang hustiya, dahil mga kababayan po natin itong nabiktima,” the PCG commandant added.
