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Hontiveros calls on Duterte to recall PHL ambassador to China; Trillanes recommends referring case to IMO


Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to recall the country’s ambassador and consuls to China amid the abandonment of Filipino crew whose boat sank after reportedly being hit by a Chinese vessel.

“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.

She said the order should remain in full effect until the Chinese government has identified the Chinese vessel, whether civilian or military, that collided with and sank the Filipino boat and explain its presence in the West Philippine Sea.

The senator said the Chinese government should also identify and punish the captain and entire crew of the Chinese vessel who abandoned the distressed fisherfolk to the sea.

Hontiveros added it should also make a commitment that such incidents will not happen again in the future.

“I strongly condemn the crew of a Chinese ship who abandoned our fisherfolk in the middle of the sea after their vessel allegedly collided with and sank ours near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea last June 9,” she said.

She added the abandonment of Filipino fishermen to the mercy of the sea was grossly despicable and inhumane. “It was also treacherous and intended to harm if proven that the reported collision was intentional.” 

She expressed full support on the call of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana for the government to conduct a formal investigation on the matter and for concrete diplomatic steps to be taken.

Hontiveros also called on the President to implement a foreign policy that fully complies with and upholds international obligations, particularly the arbitral tribunal ruling on the West Philippine Sea.

“The sinking of our ship mirrors the state of Philippine sovereignty,” she said.

She added Duterte's alleged continued subservience to China “can no longer hold the country’s sinking sovereignty afloat, which plunges deeper into a dark, bottomless abyss everyday that he fails to enforce a foreign policy that truly represents our people's patriotic aspirations and interests. This cannot stand anymore.”

The senator also thanked the crew of the Vietnamese fishing vessel who rescued the distressed Filipino fisherfolk. “Their selflessness and heroism demonstrated that the best ways to effectively respond to foreign aggressors and secure peace and stability in the region are through solidarity, unity and multilateralism.” 

IMO

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.

“This way, a dispassionate, independent and objective investigation would be conducted on the matter and its recommendations would be binding under international law,” he said in a press statement.

This probe is separate from the internal investigation of the Philippine Coast Guard, he said.

Trillanes, a former Navy officer, said the situation is “very alarming that could further escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.”

“At this point, it would greatly help us to know exactly what happened so we could provide the appropriate response,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News

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