Recto Bank incident: Gem-Vir or Gem-Ver?

SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines — The Philippine fishing boat that was hit and sunk by a Chinese trawler at Recto Bank on the night of June 9 was originally named “Gem-Vir,” which stood for Gemini and Virgo, the astrological signs of the boat’s owners.

But, as explained by skipper Junel Insigne and Elizer Salilig, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director in the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) region, the boat’s name was misspelled by the painter as “Gem-Ver.”

Since then, the 14.38-ton boat has been registered with the BFAR as “F/B Gem-Ver 1” whenever the owners renew its commercial fishing license, most recently in March.

It is one of two “Gem-Ver” fishing boats owned by the De la Torre family of Barangay San Roque here. —Maricar Cinco