Chinese embassy upset over sea ramming incident report

Herman Balmores, one of the fishermen rescued after a Chinese ship rammed their boat off Bolinao, Pangasinan, rests at the hospital in Vigan City. RICARDO RAGUINI / CONTRIBUTOR

MANILA, Philippines – The Chinese Embassy here has expressed displeasure over news reports that a Chinese vessel had rammed a Philippine fishing boat, leaving one fisherman dead, three others injured and four more missing.

“Such media reports remain to be verified,” said Zhang Hua, the embassy spokesman, in a statement Sunday night.

“Upon seeing the stories, the Chinese embassy immediately checked with the relevant authorities in China and was told that up until now, there have been no reports of vessel collision, accident or SOS requests,” he said, referring to the alleged incident off Bolinao in Pangasinan last Wednesday that was only reported Sunday, a day after the three injured fishermen were rescued off Ilocos Sur.

“Someone reportedly said that the Philippine fishing boat was rammed by a Chinese vessel,” Zhang said.

“We wonder what that news story was based upon,” he said. “We hope relevant persons can verify the facts with a responsible attitude before they report (the news),” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the news report, saying “we will have to verify the report first.”