US Ambassador:Those responsible for Recto bank incident should be made accountable

DAVAO CITY –– United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said there should be a full investigation into the incident involving the Chinese vessel, which rammed into the Filipino fishing boat and that those responsible should be held accountable.

Kim, who was in Davao City to visit a teen clinic supported by the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID) at Brokenshire Hospital here, said he was glad that the Filipino fishermen were safe.

But he said the incident was a reminder of the importance of developing a meaningful code of conduct governing the laws of the sea.

“First of all I’m glad that all Filipino fishermen were saved, that there were no lives lost from the incident,” he told reporters.  “I think it is very important that there will be a full investigation of what happened and that those responsible should be held accountable,” he said.

“It is also a reminder of the importance of developing a meaningful code of conduct, the effort that the US has been supportive for years. It is also the reminder of the importance of responsible maritime activities according to a system for international law and practices.”

He was referring to the Chinese shipping vessel which rammed into the Filipino boat FM Gemvir anchored along the Recto Bank of the West Philippine Sea towards midnight of June 9.