Del Rosario says joint probe will redound partnership between PH, ‘bully’ China

REAR HIT A closer look at the damaged fantail of the Philippine fishing boat Gem-vir 1. —Philippine Navy photo

MANILA, Philippines — Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario warns that a joint probe on the Recto Bank incident “redounds to a potential partnership” between the Philippines and “bully” China.

“The plan for a joint probe by the Ph and China is the worst news yet. It redounds to a potential partnership between one party (Ph who is out to seek the truth) against another party (China, the bully) who is out to suppress it,” he said in a statement before he left for Hong Kong on Friday morning.

Del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales filed a case for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court against Chinese President Xi Jinping last March.

Both were held and questioned on arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport in separate occasions.

Del Rosario was held at the  Hong Kong airport when he arrived there at 7:40 a.m. this Friday while Carpio-Morales, experienced the same ordeal when she traveled to Hong Kong last May 21.

READ: Ex-Foreign Secretary Del Rosario held, questioned at Hong Kong airport

“We should really feel sorry for our poor fishermen as the ultimate product of a joint probe  with Beijing is expected to be no more than a bowl of fruit salad,” Del Rosario went on.

“Can we please not insult the intelligence of our people?” he added.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte welcomes a joint probe on the incident.

This after China’s suggestion for a joint probe on the incident that left 22 Filipino fishermen abandoned in open water for hours after a Chinese vessel reportedly rammed their fishing boat at Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea.

However, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. rejected the proposal for a joint investigation and added that the Palace supports his stand on the matter.

“I’ve stated my view of this proposal; DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) will act on MY VIEW & no one else’s. I talked to ES (Executive Secretary Salvador) Medialdea; Palace supports me. That’s that. Also I listen only to the DND (Department of National Defense) and NSA (National Security Agency),” Locsin wrote on Twitter.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)

READ: Palace backs my stand against joint probe on Recto Bank incident – Locsin