MORE PATROLS IN RECTO BANK
Eyed following ‘collision’ between PH, Chinese vessels
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is mulling to increase naval patrols at Recto or Reed Bank in the West Philippine Sea after the "collision" of a suspected Chinese vessel and a Philippine fishing boat.
Lorenzana said there have been regular patrols being conducted by the Philippine Navy at the vicinity of Recto Bank to ensure the safe passage of local fishing boats in the area but he admitted it was not enough. "Mayroon tayong patrol pero kulang lang tayo ng barko talaga. We don't have enough Coast Guard ships. Kaya we are planning to acquire more para may panggwardiya tayo dyan," he said.
He also sought the assistance of other concerned agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard and even the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources if they can possibly help in the patrol operations. "Tignan natin kung pwede nating mai-augment ang ating naval vessels saka ‘yung iba pang BFAR kung pwede magpatrolya," he noted.
Recto Bank is within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines but Lorenzana said it is a "common fishing ground" among the Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese fishermen. "Nakakapasok naman lahat ng fishing boats kasi common fishing ground 'yan. Hindi lang tayo ang nagfifishing dyan," he said.
However, what's unacceptable, according to the Defense chief, was the act of abandoning the 22 fishermen when their F/B Gimver 1 sank after the collision. The incident happened on June 9, which, ironically is the Philippines-China Friendship Day.
Whether what happened was really an accidental collision or an intentional sinking of the Philippine fishing boat was already the subject of an investigation being conducted by the Department of National Defense, PCG, and the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, Lorenzana said.
Lorenzana added that there should be additional mechanisms for local fishermen to prevent a repeat of the incident. "There should be more mechanisms like mayroon kang ilaw palagi para makita ka. 'Yung iba, be very careful when traveling at night especially ang mga fishing boats kasi wala naman radar 'yan eh. Kailangan magingat lang para walang aksidenteng maganap," he said.
The 22 fishermen are finally home after they were fetched by the military yesterday afternoon from the Vietnamese fishing vessel that found and rescued them.
BRP (Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas) Ramon Alcaraz arrived at the Caminawit Port in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro at past 3:30 p.m. carrying the 22 crew.
"Ang mga mangingisda na sakay ng PS16 BRP Ramon Alcaraz ng Philipine Navy ay nandoon na po sa vicinity ng San Jose, Occidental Mindoro at doon po nila gagawin 'yung hand over ng mga mangingisda natin na nasagip ng mga Vietnamese fisherfolks at eventually inilipat sa barko ng Philippine Navy," said Brig. Gen.Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces spokesperson.
Malacañang assured that it is taking the necessary steps to get to the bottom of the incident.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, in an interview with ANC yesterday, said that Malacañang is condemning the act of abandonment regardless if the collision was intentional or if the offender was indeed a Chinese vessel or not.
"Regardless of whatever, we are against it, we're condemning it, and we will not sit idly and just watch," he said. "We are against it, assuming that it is really a Chinese vessel that's rammed it or bumped it, or that sunk it," he added.