Duterte wants sanctions vs China boat crew
BEIJING – Apology is not enough.
President Duterte wants sanctions imposed on the crew of the Chinese ship that rammed and sank a Filipino fishing boat and left its 22 crewmen floundering in the water for hours near Recto (Reed) Bank last June.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte brought up the Recto Bank incident during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last Thursday here.
“I note that your side has recognized and confirmed the responsibility of the Chinese fishing crew and appreciate China’s readiness to provide the necessary compensation for our fishermen who almost lost their lives at sea. This is a step in the right direction,” Panelo quoted Duterte as telling
Xi, at a press briefing yesterday here.
“I reiterate our desire for the filing of our application of appropriate sanctions against the Chinese crew in the interest of achieving closure, manifesting good faith and demonstrating China’s resort to an event to prevent a repeat of the incident,” he added.
Panelo said the fishermen of the sunken boat F/B GemVer 1 should be the ones to file charges against the Chinese crew but the government is ready to help them do so.
“To the fishermen, if you are listening, we can help you in filing your claim and if you’re interested in pursuing a criminal case we will assist you too,” the presidential spokesman said.
Panelo said the fishermen could file a reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property case against the Chinese crew.
The owner of the Chinese ship has apologized through a memorandum issued by the Guangdong Provincial Fishery Mutual Insurance Association.
The group said the Recto Bank incident was an “unintentional mistake” but Philippine Ambassador Jose Santiago Sta. Romana maintained that the apology does not excuse the owner and crew from responsibility.
Sta. Romana has said the compensation for the Filipino fishermen is still subject to further negotiations.
Recto bank is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, over which the country has sovereign rights.
In Manila, Sen. Richard Gordon said more than an apology was needed, as the Chinese had never acknowledged the abandonment of the Filipino crew.
“No mention has been made of the abandonment by the Chinese crew of the Filipino fishermen on board their sinking boat or floating in the sea. The abandonment issue is more serious than the property damage matter. In fact, abandonment or failing to come to the rescue of persons in danger especially at sea, is a criminal act,” he said.
With the apology referring to the incident as an accident, Gordon questioned whether a credible and exhaustive investigation has already been conducted that would support the conclusion that it was an accident and not an intentional act.
“We have taken care of our people already. Right after the incident, an apology should have been issued then. While the apology is a step forward, it conveniently sidesteps the abandonment issue,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino is pushing for the passage of a bill, which seeks to impose stiff penalties on those who refuse or fail to give assistance to persons in distress at sea.
Tolentino filed Senate Bill 209 or the proposed Good Samaritan At Sea Act, which seeks to ensure that those guilty of jeopardizing the lives of men at sea and those who refuse to lend assistance during emergencies at sea would not go unpunished.