The Ambassador of the Philippines is attending a memorial service at St Thomas' Church for three fishermen who died at sea.

His Excellency Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr. is honouring Filipino fishermen Jervis Baligat and Larry Simyunn  and their skipper, Michael Michieli.

The fishermen died at sea almost two years ago, on 8 December 2022, when their trawler collided with the Commodore Goodwill in the early hours of the morning.

Ambassador Locsin says the duty to care for Filipino nationals abroad remains with him and his team.

"When you need help, you say so and [the help] is instant.

"My job as ambassador, there are three pillars (to it), national security, international relations, but standing on its own is a separate pillar, the protection of nationals abroad.

"When I became ambassador of the UK, he said 'Finally, you're a real ambassador, real ambassadors don't talk to his kind, he thinks his job is the protection and service to nationals abroad' and that's why I'm here, to see how they are."

Larry Simyunn, Michael Michieli and Jervis Baligat

A memorial service is being held at St Thomas' Church from 5:00 pm until 5:45 pm.

Two men, aged 29 and 34, arrested and charged with the manslaughter of the three fishermen, have pleaded not guilty.

UK Ambassador of the Philippines Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr. and External Relations Minister Ian Gorst.

Ambassador Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr. is also attending a series of engagements during his trip to Jersey.

After the church service, His Excellency will go to the Town Hall for a Vin d'Honneur, where he will meet the island's Filipino community, as well as the wider community and government officials.

His Excellency says he would like to return to Jersey in the future.

"I'd like to see more [of the island] because I intend to come back with businessmen.

"Something like the Jersey cow, for example, produces the best milk. It’s bred to be smaller to take up less space, and you're sending them to Africa which means they can take the extreme weather we have in the Tropics.

"So, that's going back to my country, we have a strong dairy industry."

UK Ambassador of the Philippines Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr. and External Relations Minister Ian Gorst.

External Relations Minister Ian Gorst says it is pleasing that the Ambassador thinks there is an opportunity for the Jersey cow back in the Philippines.

"They are a growing economy in a more important part of the world and therefore helping him to understand what Jersey as an international finance centre has got to offer when it comes to foreign direct investment, that's also an important part of this trip."

"We know that the Jersey cow is a fantastic, if not our best ambassador.  It’s known around the world and Jersey Overseas Aid have partnered with developing countries to support the Jersey cow as an ambassador and give financial support."

Jersey Cow