Lorenzana raised Recto Bank incident at ASEAN defense chiefs’ meeting — DND

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (fourth from right) meets with his regional counterparts at the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok on June 11, 2019. Photo: ADMM

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana raised the issue of the Recto Bank incident during the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in Bangkok on Thursday, the Department of Defense said.

In a press release on Sunday, the DND said Lorenzana took the opportunity to thank the crew of the Vietnamese fishing vessel that came to the rescue of the 22 Filipino crewmen whose fishing boat foundered off Recto Bank on June 9 after being hit and then abandoned by a Chinese vessel.

Lorenzana highlighted the importance of adopting the ADMM guidelines for maritime interaction to prevent such incidents.

The DND added that the defense ministers also discussed possible approaches that ASEAN defense agencies could take in responding to the security implications of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.

The defense ministers also reaffirmed their commitment in sustaining the region’s security through cooperation in addressing traditional and non-traditional challenges of security.

Lorenzana underscored the Philippines’ support for continuing and new initiatives under the ADMM.

On the sidelines of the ADMM, Lorenzana held a bilateral meeting with Thai Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and a trilateral meeting with Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad bin Sabu.

The ADMM is the highest platform for cooperation among the defense establishments in ASEAN. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News