Crew, ship owner lost P2-M in Recto Bank incident

The owner of the F/B Gem-Vir 1, which was badly damaged and foundered after it was rammed by a Chinese vessel last June 9, appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte for assistance as damage and loses from the incident had cost her and the fishing boat's crew up to P2 million.

"Mahal naming Pangulo, humihingi po kami ng tulong sa inyo na para po mapagawa namin  ang aming bangkang nasira at 'yung puhunan po maibalik sa amin," said boat owner Arlinda Dela Torre in a 24 Oras Report by Jun Veneracion.

Dela Torre and the Gem-Vir 1's cook, Richard Blaza, had earlier attended a meeting with Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol over the incident.

Blaza, meanwhile, was firm in recollection that the Chinese vessel that rammed them had ignored their signals for assistance.

He recounted how the Gem-Vir 1's crew immediately transferred to three smaller boats and sailed towards the Chinese vessel to ask for help.

They, however, were dismayed by the Chinese vessel's response.

"Nag-atras na sila at nagpatay ng ilaw tapos sumibat na rin," said Blaza. — Dona Magsino/DVM, GMA News