Subic, Zambales – Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino on Wednesday (July 10) reported that the Filipino fisherman who survived a ‘hit-and-run’ collision last July 7 off the waters of Bajo de Masinloc, Zambales, is still recovering from the ordeal, while the latter’s brother, who went missing after the incident, has yet to be located and rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard.
It was Tolentino who first broke the news on Tuesday about a foreign commercial vessel that ran over and destroyed a fishing boat being used by Robert Mondeñedo, 47, and his younger brother Jose, 45, both fisherfolk from Subic, Zambales.
The senator personally visited today July 16, Robert and the family of Jose Mondeñedo to give financial support.
“Ang ilang ahensya ng pamahalaan ay sinulatan ko ngayon, gaya ng Department of Justice para tumulomg sa kaso,”. Parang ‘hit-and-run’ in our own seas po ang nangyari last July 7,” the senator said of the incident.
“I remain hopeful that our coast guard can recover safely our missing fisherman, Jose Mondeñedo, and that justice be given to him and his brother Robert, and their families.”
Finally he said that the foreign shipping vessel, whose body bore Chinese characters, but was described by Robert as bearing the words ‘Yang Fu’ on the ship’s rear part, should be tracked and held accountable.
“The ship responsible, initially identified as Yang Fu, must be tracked down and held accountable under Philippine and international maritime laws,” he concluded.
Senator Tolentino also attended the distribution of Assistance to Individuals Crisis Situations (AICS) payout for 300 beneficiaries and the Rosmar Charity Program, in Barangay Sta. Fe, San Marcelino, Zambales