Reed Bank collision may not be an accident — AFP official

The marine incident at Recto Reef in which a Chinese fishing vessel hit a Filipino boat last Sunday may have been intentional, according to an official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"It (Filipino fishing boat) was anchored at the Recto Bank, meaning its not moving. It was anchored because it's already evening. It was hit by the Chinese vessel. After the collision, the Chinese vessel immediately left, escaped. It's like a hit and run," AFP Western Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Penetrante related.

"According to our report, its far from accidental. If it's accidental, it's SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) they should stop, they should rescue these fishermen. But when they hit FB Gimber 1, they didn't stop," he said.

Penetrante was referring to the collision between a Chinese and Filipino vessel, the FB Gimber1, near the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea on the evening of June 9, 2019. As a result of the collision, Filipino vessel was badly damaged and was sunk.

A Joint Task Force West has been organized to investigate and document the incident,"for the possible filing of diplomatic complaint."

"We are going interview the the survivors, the 22 fishermen. This will be our basis in filing the (possible) complaint...We're getting the statement of the 22 fishermen who survived bec they were there," Penetrante said. — BAP, GMA News