MANILA, Philippines — If you are our friend, at least give us the names of the fishermen.
This was Senator Richard Gordon’s message on Thursday as he appealed to China to release the names of the Chinese crew involved in the sinking of a Filipino boat in the West Philippine Sea last June 9 that left 22 Filipino fishermen adrift at sea for hours.
READ: China fishing vessel sinks Filipino boat after ‘collision’ in West Philippine Sea
Gordon urged China to release the names “out of friendship,” saying that those responsible for the incident should be investigated. He said he can assure a fair trial.
“Ang problema ko, we’ll do our own investigation, pero sino ang fifile-an mo? John Doe? John Go? John Sy? Paano mo fi-file-an, walang jurisdiction ang court? Paano sila huhulihin? Hihintayin mo pa na magbigay sila ng pangalan,” Gordon said in a statement.
(How can you file a case without names — John Doe? John Go? John Sy? — or court jurisdiction? How are they going to be arrested? You need to have names.)
Gordon added that Filipinos are also seeking justice for Filipino fishermen for Recto Bank incident.
“Hindi mo ba pwede sabihin, magpapadala kami ng danyos perwisyos, papalitan namin yung boat, at itong mga taong ito, I can assure you papakita ko ang pangalan, lilitisin namin iyan bago namin sintensyahan. Kung kaibigan ka, pagbigyan mo naman ako dahil ang mga tao ko gusto rin ng hustisya, sabihin mo na kung ano ang nangyari,” the senator added.
(Can’t you even say that you are going to send relief, or shoulder the cost of the boat? I can assure you that we will grant a fair trial. If you are a friend, you will agree to our request because people want justice. Just tell us what you want.)
The senator noted that personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had been recommended to be charged with homicide following the death of a Taiwanese fisherman by gunfire from a Philippine vessel. /ee
READ: Manila court to Coast Guard officers: Go to trial over death of Taiwanese fisherman