MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is already aware of the collision on June 9 between a Chinese vessel and a Filipino fishing boat at Recto Bank (Reed Bank) in the West Philippine Sea.
According to Duterte’s trusted aide and incoming Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana already informed the President about the incident.
Duterte and Lorenzana were in Mindanao on Wednesday to celebrate the 121st Philippine Independence Day at the 6th Infantry Batallion in Malabang town in Lanao del Sur.
In a statement, Lorenzana said the Filipino vessel F/B GIMVER 1 was anchored at the time when it was hit by the Chinese fishing vessel.
READ: China fishing vessel sinks Filipino boat after ‘collision’ in West Philippine Sea
“We denounce the actions of the Chinese fishing vessel for immediately leaving the incident scene abandoning the 22 Filipino crewmen to the mercy of the elements,” the defense chief said.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the cowardly action of the Chinese fishing vessel and its crew for abandoning the Filipino crew. This is not the expected action from a responsible and friendly people,” he added.
(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)