Panelo: Gov’t ready to help Gem-Ver fishermen file case vs Chinese crew in Recto Bank incident

A closer look at the damaged fantail of the Philippine fishing boat Gem-Ver 1. (Photo from the Philippine Navy)

MANILA, Philippines—Government is ready to help the crew of the Philippine fishing boat F/B Gem-Ver in filing a damage claim and a criminal case against the owner and crew of a Chinese trawler which rammed and sank their boat near the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea more than two months ago, Malacañang said Friday.

“(To) the (Gem-Ver) fishermen, if you’re listening, we can help you in filing your claim and if you are interested in pursuing a criminal case, we will assist you, too,” Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing in Beijing, China where President Rodrigo Duterte is currently on a four-day working visit.

Panelo noted that the Chinese crew can be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property for ramming the F/B Gem-Ver near the Recto Bank on June 10.

The owner of the Chinese vessel meanwhile has already apologized for the incident it had called an “accidental collision.”

READ: Two months later, Chinese shipowner apologizes for ‘accident’ with PH boat

The apology was reported just hours before Duterte met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss maritime issues.

The apology of the ship’s owner was coursed through an association of  Chinese fishers which counts the owner of the trawler involved in the Recto Bank allision as one of its members. However, the names of the Chinese shipowner and its crew were not disclosed.

It only said that the Chinese vessel involved was registered in Guangdong province, a coastal area facing the South China Sea.

Panelo, who is also Duterte’s chief legal counsel, also clarified that Malacañang did not accept the apology issued by the Chinese ship owner, despite clearly saying in a statement on Wednesday that “we accept the recent apology extended by the owner of the Chinese vessel.”

He insisted that it is for the F/B Gem-Ver fishermen to decide whether or not they will accept the apology.

“Tayo lang naman we appreciate the fact that they apologized. Hindi naman tayo ang tatanggap dun, dapat ‘yung fishermen talaga” he said.

(We only appreciate the fact that they apologized. It is the fishermen who should accept that)

READ: Palace accepts apology of Chinese shipowner in Recto Bank incident

The Department of Foreign Affairs has filed a diplomatic protest over the incident, which again placed on spotlight the Duterte administration’s policy on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

A joint investigation by Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority found that it was a “very serious” marine incident and that the Chinese vessel could have taken actions to avoid collision with the F/B Gem-Ver.

But Duterte has insisted the incident was just a “little maritime accident.” /muf