The Philippine Coast Guard has filed criminal charges against the crew of a locally owned landing craft in connection with a collision that had left one person dead in the waters of the west-central Philippines.
The captain, the chief officer, the helmsman, and the lookout of the landing craft Golden Lotus each face one charge of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property for the September 8, 2020 incident that led to the death of a 29-year-old fisherman.
According to the sole witness, who was also the father of the deceased individual, he and his son were sailing on separate boats in the waters off Molacaboc Island in Sagay City and Pamaaun Reef in Escalante, Negros Occidental province, at around 04:00 local time on September 8 when the incident occurred.
The victim's father narrated that when he saw the landing craft pass by their location, he then thought that his son's fishing boat might have been rammed by the larger vessel. Immediately, he searched for his son and subsequently found him already dead and with his right leg missing.
The son's fishing boat had also been damaged in the incident.
After it received a report on the incident, Coast Guard District Southern Visayas ordered its personnel to conduct a thorough investigation that led to the filing of criminal charges against the four crewmen.
