Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. FILE PHOTO / Paul R. Autor
BANGKOK, Thailand — Even as President Rodrigo Duterte agreed to a joint investigation with China, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) have concluded their own joint probe into the Chinese vessel’s ramming and sinking of a Philippine fishing boat.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters here that the PCG and Marina already submitted their joint report to Malacañang on Thursday.
But Tugade declined to disclose the findings of the agencies’ investigation, saying he would let the recipients of the report read it first.
“We will wait for the people to whom the report has been submitted to appreciate the report before we disclose anything,” he said.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the mechanics of the joint investigation with China have not been laid down yet, and the idea of bringing in a neutral party to join the probe was just President Duterte’s idea.
READ: Duterte wants Recto Bank incident jointly probed by Philippines, China and neutral country
“It may not be the idea of the other side. We are ready to accept whatever suggestion they have,” Panelo said.
He also said a third party may not even be necessary if there are no differences between the investigation reports of China and the Philippines.
The likely scenario is that the Philippines and China would share with each other and compare their respective investigation reports on the Recto Bank incident, he said.
“If both investigations are similar, so there’s no more need. All they have to do is issue a statement jointly, touch on the issues raised. Was it an accident, is there a compensation, whatever,” he said.
But if there are conflicting findings, then the two countries would have to work things out, he said. This is also where the third party could come in, he added.
“As the ambassador says, and I agree with him, ‘there are no issues that the best of friends cannot agree on.’ Meaning to say, it’s easy to talk about whatever differences there may be,” he said.
Panelo dismissed concerns that China may control the results of a joint investigation.
“Why would we allow ourselves to be controlled? You know how Filipinos are. That can’t be controlled because the guarantee is our character, we won’t allow ourselves to be beaten,” he said.
He also said he has informed Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. about Mr. Duterte’s agreement to a joint probe, and the Secretary agreed with it. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)
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