Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino likened the fate of the missing fisherman in Subic, Zambales to a "hit-and-run".

“Parang hit-and-run sa ating sariling karagatan ang nangyari (What happened is like a hit-and-run in our own seas),” Tolentino said in a statement on Wednesday, July 10.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Jose was with his brother, Robert, when their fishing boat was hit by a Chinese vessel.

“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,” he said.

According to the PCG report, the brothers departed from Barangay Wawandaue in Subic on July 1 aboard fishing banca (Fbca) "John Robert" to go to their payao located in the vicinity waters off Sampaloc Point for a fishing activity.

However, at around 3 p.m. on July 3, an unidentified vessel hit the fishermen’s boat.

The PCG said that Robert survived the collision after he held on to their payao for three days until another fishing boat, Fbca “Irish Mae”, passed by the vicinity and rescued him at around 8 a.m. on July 6.

Unfortunately, Jose was nowhere to be found.

Tolentino said that the ship involved was a Chinese commercial vessel named "Yang Fu.”

“The ship responsible, initially identified as Chinese vessel Yang Fu, must be tracked down and held accountable under Philippine and international maritime laws,” he said.

"Kausap ko rin ang pamilya ni Jose Mondonedo at papasyalan ko sila sa Zambales sa July 16 at pinadalhan ko na rin po ng tulong pinansyal. Ang ilang ahensya ng pamahalaan ay sinulatan ko ngayon gaya ng Department of Justice para tumulong sa kaso (I have already spoken to the family of Jose Mondoñedo and I will visit them in Zambales on July 16 and I have also sent them financial aid. I also wrote to some government agencies such as the Department of Justice to help them with the case)," he added.

Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG commandant, directed one of their vessels, BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407), to conduct a search and rescue (SAR) operation for Jose.

The Coast Guard Station (CGS) Zambales immediately issued a notice to mariners, as well as coordinated with neighboring barangays and local fisherfolks for possible sightings of the missing fisherman, according to PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo.