Palace raises doubts on account of Filipino fishermen in Recto Bank incident

Malacañang on Tuesday raised doubts on the account of the crew of the Filipino fishing boat that recently figured in an allision with a Chinese vessel as it called for thorough investigation on the matter. 

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo gave the statement following conflicting claims between FB GEM-VIR 1 boat captain Junel Insigne and cook Richard Blaza. Insigne claimed the Chinese vessel rammed their stationary boat while Blaza said he was not sure whether the crew of the Chinese boat saw them before impact on June 9.

Blaza was the only person awake when the incident happened.

Panelo also questioned whether the Filipino fishing vessel was anchored near the shore. He also learned from the Cabinet cluster meeting on Monday that there were 19 Philippine fishing vessels in the area after the incident.

"Lumalabas ngayon, hindi naman pala nasa shoreline o nasa tabi ng shore, kung hindi nasa gitna rin ng dagat. Nagkataon lang daw," he said.

"Hindi natin alam na iyon palang after the incident, dahil nabangga na nga, iyong mga labingsiyam, 19 boats ng Pilipino na ginagamit sa pangbingwit, nagkalat doon kaya pala ang dami. O, hindi nga rin natin alam iyon. Alam ko, nag-iisa lang na vessel iyon."

China's embassy in Manila earlier said the Chinese crew members of fishing boat Yuemaobinyu 42212 had to leave the area after the incident because their captain "was afraid of being besieged by other Filipino fishing boats."

"May mga circumstances that give doubt to the version, kaya kailangan imbestigahan na talaga natin. Formal inquiry na kailangan dito," Panelo said.

Several agencies have been tasked to lead the investigation into the Recto Bank incident in which a moving Chinese vessel hit an anchored Philippine fishing boat, seriously damaging the vessel and putting at risk its 22 crew members.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the investigation is aimed to "determine the extent of the liabilities involved and in order to ascertain the most effective legal means to obtain justice for our countrymen."

The investigation will be undertaken by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Region IV-B Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) as well as the Maritime Industry Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard.

Panelo and Nograles meanwhile broached the idea of a joint investigation by the Philippines and China on the June 9 allision.

"I am tinkering the idea of suggesting that [to the President], joint investigation ng dalawang bansa," Panelo said.

"It's possible. It's one of the options," said Nograles in a separate interview. "Ang magiging proseso nito ay nandiyan ang ating diplomatic protest. Hintayin po natin kung ano ang magiging reply ng China then we will work from there."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Tuesday that China was ready to enhance communication with the Philippines on the investigation on the incident. 

China also expressed its "sympathy to the Filipino fishermen who were in distress" and assured it would “continue to earnestly investigate into this matter.”

Lu maintained that the incident was an “accidental collision” and that Filipino and Chinese fishermen “have long been friendly with each other, rendering mutual assistance to the best of their capabilities in times of need."

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he would wait for the results of the investigation and said that China should be given the right to air its side. — MDM, GMA News