International vessel didn’t ram boat of Filipinos on purpose—maritime executive

CULPRIT? The Hong Kong-registered, 195-meter MV Peach Mountain is suspected to have rammed a Philippine fishing boat on June 20 off the waters of Bolinao in Pangasinan. Survivors say their fishing boat is similar in size to the 13-meter vessel shown above. Willie Lomibao/contributor

MANILA, Philippines—Captain Ronaldo Enrile, vice president for operations of Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC) said Tuesday he does not believe the claims that the international vessel rammed the boat of Filipino fishermen on purpose off Bolinao, Pangasinan along the West Philippine Sea last week.

In an interview with anchors Susan K, Den Macaranas and Captain Dylan Halili of “Good Morning Inquirer” on Radio Inquirer 990AM, Enrile said “no sane ship official will hit a small boat on purpose knowing that it will cause the boat to sink.”

He added the small boats made of wood are really not easily captured by radars.

A private company specializing on marine management, among others, PTC has deployed more 33,000 Filipino maritime professionals on board close to 700 vessels.