Inter-agency probing PN, Vietnamese fishermen incident

The encounter between the Filipino patrol craft and Vietnamese ship took place around 1 a.m., 34 nautical miles off Bolinao, Pangasinan, AFP public affairs Col. Edgard Arevalo said Monday. (Photo: Edgard A. Arevalo/Facebook)

MANILA — An inter-agency investigation is now underway to determine circumstances on the incident involving the BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) and a poaching Vietnamese fishing vessel which left two Vietnamese crewmen dead last Sept. 23.

The encounter between the Filipino patrol craft and Vietnamese ship took place around 1 a.m., 34 nautical miles off Bolinao, Pangasinan, AFP public affairs Col. Edgard Arevalo said Monday.

“There is an ongoing inquiry by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Navy (PN) on the circumstances surrounding the incident,” he added.

Arevalo said the PN is making its personnel available on-call for the inquiry to shed light on the incident.

“We have submitted the incident report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) who will also be furnished updates and results of the investigation. We may have to direct further queries and issuances to the DFA,” he added.

Initial reports reaching AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City indicated that two Vietnamese fishermen were found dead in their vessel during the visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) procedure done by PN personnel on the Vietnamese ship.

Before the VBSS, the Navy ship gave chase to the said fishing vessel that was spotted, along with five other fishing vessels, to be illegally fishing near Bolinao, Pangasinan.