Recto Bank fishing boat ramming must be probed by ‘third party’ – security expert

The Philippine fishing boat Gem-Vir 1 sinks after being hit by a Chinese vessel. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A national security expert said a “third party” should conduct an impartial investigation on the ramming of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel at the Recto (Reed) Bank in the West Philippine Sea.

“Para sakin mahalaga yung efforts to investigate pero para magkaroon ng impartial, unbiased [and] untainted investigation, magkaroon din ng third party investigation,” national security expert Prof. Rommel Banlaoi told Radyo Inquirer on Wednesday.

Banlaoi said the third party probe will help the public scrutinize the statements issued by the Philippine government and China about the incident.

“Kasi lumalabas sa pahayag ng mga opisyal at China e doubted ng mga tao,” he said.

Banlaoi said the third party investigation must be made by well-known experts and investigators who are independent and are accepted by the people.

“‘Yung third party na private, well-known experts, investigators na walang kinikilingan na parties,” Banlaoi said.

“Most importantly accepted by the people yung hindi doubted ng mga tao lalo na yung mga fishermen,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte downplayed the sinking of the Filipino fishing boat FB Gem-Vir 1 as a “little maritime incident.”   (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)

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