Lorenzana: Chinese vessel ramming Pinoy boat in Recto Bank was an accident

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said the Recto Bank (Reed Bank) incident on June 9 where a Filipino fishing boat was reportedly rammed by a Chinese vessel was an accident.

"I think it's just an accident based on the information we got from the crew. Siguro hindi sinasadya ng kabila na nasagi nila," Lorenzana said during a forum.

It was Lorenzana who bared to the public that F/B Gem-Vir 1 was hit by a Chinese vessel on June 9.

Lorenzana had said the Chinese men did not extend assistance to the 22 Filipino crewmen and instead they abandoned the fishermen at sea. The fishermen were eventually rescued by a Vietnamese vessel.

In his earlier statement, Lorenzana had condemned "in the strongest terms" those onboard the Chinese vessel for leaving the Filipino fishermen.

Lorenzana was asked about criticisms that he has backtracked from his previous statement on the incident. He reasoned out that there have been new facts regarding the case.

"I think we can change our mind if new facts will come," Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana believes that it is better if local authorities will just work with their Chinese counterparts in investigating the incident.

"Maganda siguro na mag-work na lang tayo together with Chinese so that we can get to the bottom of this and the Vietnamese para maliwanagan lahat," he said.

Meanwhile, Lorenzana was also asked if it is proper to invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) over the controversial sea incident.

The Defense chief said MDT is for armed attack.

"MDT kasi is for armed attack. This one is not armed attack. It's purely an accident," Lorenzana said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said the MDT, which was inked in 1951, is the only weapon of the Philippines once the reported ramming incident of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel further escalates into an international incident.

Lorenzana said the government is waiting for the official statement from China regarding the 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.

President Rodrigo Duterte has called the incident "a little maritime accident." "Dalawang bangka lang 'yan," he said.

The Chinese government has expressed sympathy for the 22 fishermen but still maintains that what happened was an accident.

Insigne, however, has told GMA News he believes the collision was intentional on the part of the Chinese. "Kung sa akin, sinasadya po 'yon," he said.

Senior Associate Justice Carpio said on Friday it is "highly likely that a Chinese maritime militia vessel" rammed the Filipino boat as "China's maritime militia vessels have reinforced steel hulls purposely for ramming fishing vessels of other coastal states. —KG, GMA News