A Filipino fishing boat was struck by an unidentified vessel in the West Philippine Sea, leaving three fishermen missing while five others were rescued, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The incident occurred on January 30 but was only reported on February 16. The fishing boat FBCA Prince Elmo 2, carrying eight crew members, was hit at an undisclosed location. The cargo ship MV DONG AN later rescued five crew members in the waters off Vietnam but was unable to locate the missing fishermen.
Search and Response Efforts
The PCG dispatched BRP Boracay with a medical team to retrieve the rescued fishermen, who were then handed over to local authorities in Naic, Cavite.
Senate Condemns the Incident
Senator Francis Tolentino condemned the attack and urged authorities to locate the missing crew. He highlighted similar past incidents involving foreign vessels, including a July 2024 case in Subic and a deadly collision in Panatag Shoal in October 2023.
The incident adds to ongoing tensions in Philippine waters, raising concerns over maritime safety and security in the West Philippine Sea.