Palace seeks probe on Reed Bank incident, wants Chinese crew sanctioned

Malacañang on Wednesday called for an investigation into the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat following a collision with Chinese vessel off Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea and the imposition of sanctions against the Chinese crew.

"We call on the appropriate Chinese authorities to probe the collision and impose the proper sanctions to the Chinese crew," said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a statement.

He added that appropriate government agencies have already extended assistance to the 22 Filipino crew on board FB Gimber 1, who were rescued at sea by a Vietnamese vessel.

"The act of abandonment, by those sailing the Chinese fishing vessel of twenty-two Filipino fishermen aboard their anchored and stationary watercraft hit by them is uncivilized as it is outrageous," said Panelo.

"Regardless of the nature of the collision, whether it was accidental or intentional, common decency and the dictates of humanity require the dictates of humanity require the immediate saving of the crew of the downed Philippine vessel." 

The military believes the collision may have been intentional.

"It (FB Gimber 1) 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," said Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Penetrante, spokesman for the military's Western Command.

Natural reaction

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana bared the incident on Wednesday as the country was celebrating its 121st Independence Day. In a statement, Lorenzana denounced the Chinese vessel for leaving the scene immediately after the collision, leaving the Filipino crew at sea.

Panelo underscored that ensuring the safety of the crew of the damaged Philippine vessel and extending assistance should have been a natural reaction of the Chinese crew.

"The present territorial conflict between the countries of the two colliding vessels pertaining to the area where the collision occurred, is not — and can not be an impediment for the offending vessel to lend a hand to the distressed crew," he said.

"The Captain and the crew of the Chinese vessel should not have left the injured party without any assistance or succor. Such as of desertion is inhuman as it is barbaric. It is a crystal-clear violation of maritime protocols as well as an infringement of internationally accepted practice of assisting a vessel in distress," Panelo added.

According to a relative of the boat's captain, the crew were asleep when FB Gimper 1 was hit by the Chinese vessel.

Panelo also thanked the crew of the Vietnamese vessel who assisted the Filipino crew after the incident.

Recall PHL officials in China

The incident, meanwhile, prompted Senator Risa Hontiveros to call on President Rodrigo Duterte to recall the country’s ambassador and consuls to China.

"It stands to reason that if President Duterte can order the recall of our envoy and consuls in Canada over a dispute on garbage, he can do the same to defend and secure the lives of our fisherfolk and the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Hontiveros said in a press statement.

Outgoing Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, meanwhile, recommended to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to refer the incident to the Maritme Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization.

Trillanes said both the Philippines and China are State parties to the IMO. — BAP/KBK, GMA News