Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) chief said Monday they file a motion to prevent crew members of MV Vienna Wood from returning to China as the investigation on the collision involving a Philippine fishing boat is ongoing.
PCG Commandant Vice-Admiral George Ursabia announced this during his meeting with the families of the 14 Filipinos who were onboard FV Liberty 5. There is still no sighting of survivors until now.
The government already ended the search and retrieval operations for the victims on Tuesday. Ursabia, however, said the PCG Station personnel in Occidental Mindoro would continue to monitor the place of collision.
Mobile patrol operations along the Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro shoreline would also continue to find the missing passengers, Ursabia added.
The PCG chief also assured the victims’ families that the agency would issue hold departure orders against MV Vienna Wood to make sure the cargo ship would remain under the Philippines’ custody.
Also read: Cargo ship agency: ‘No survivors found’ from PH fishing boat
“Nahalughog po natin ang buong pasilidad ng MV Vienna Wood. Wala pong katotohanan ang mga bali-balita na nasa loob nito ang ilan sa mga mangingisda na biktima ng insidente,” Ursabia said.
“Wala rin pong pressure mula sa China na maki-alam sa kaso. Maliwanag na may full jurisdiction tayo dahil sa karagatan natin nangyari yung insidente,” he added.
The official also said the PCG would help the families in case they would want to file a civil suit against MV Vienna Wood. The PCG already lodged criminal complaints against the shipping company, master, and officers of the cargo ship following the collision.
“Tutulong po kami sa inyo sa paghahain ng civil case. ‘Yung criminal case po na inihain namin, pwede niyo pong gamitin sa inyong kaso,” Ursabia said.
“Rest assured po na ang Coast Guard, tutulong sa inyo. Alam ko po na masakit talaga ang ganitong sitwasyon. Ipagdasal po natin ito sa Panginoon. Wala pong ibang makakatulong sa atin kundi Diyos lang,” he added.