A criminal case has been filed against the crew of Philippine-registered landing craft, LCT Golden Lotus, over the alleged ramming of a boat in Negros Occidental that led to the death of a local fisherman, the Philippine Coast Guard said Wednesday.
The Coast Guard Southern Visayas District led by Captain Eduardo De Luna filed a criminal case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property against the crew members before the Office of City Prosecutor in Escalante, Negros Occidental on September 29.
According to the Coast Guard, the criminal complaint was filed against the vessel’s ship captain Vincent Book, Chief Mate Arnel Martinez, Helmsman Celestino Nuñez Jr, and Lookout Marlon Dangan.
The LCT Golden Lotus allegedly rammed over a fishing boat on Sept. 8, 2020 that led to the death of 29-year-old fisherman, Je-Ar Caspe, a father of three children.
The slain fisherman’s father, Enrique Caspe, Jr., who witnessed the incident, said he and his son were sailing on separate boats at around 4 a.m. on that day in the vicinity waters of Molacaboc Island in Sagay City and Pamaaun Reef in Escalante when the accident occurred.
Enrique revealed during the investigation that he saw LCT Golden Lotus passing by their location and immediately suspected that his son’s fishing boat might have been rammed by the ship.
He then found his son with a missing leg and a fractured arm dead in the waters. His fishing boat was also damaged.