DOJ-led panel to discuss with China compensation for Gem-Vir fishermen in June

A panel headed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) will negotiate with its Chinese counterpart next month for just compensation for the crew members of a fishing boat sunk by a Chinese vessel in the West Philippines Sea in 2019.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the meetings would take place on June 2 and 7.

The Philippines will be represented by officials from the DOJ, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

“The DOJ will lead a small group to put a close to this festering issue,” Guevarra said in a message to reporters on Monday.

“As far as the Filipino fishermen are concerned, it is important that they recover fully their expenses for the boat repair and the income they lost while the boat was under repair.”

The Filipino fishing boat, Gem-Vir 1, was hit by a Chinese trawler while it was anchored at the Recto Bank on June 9, 2019.

The Chinese vessel left the area after the incident, and the 22 crew members of Gem-Vir 1 were left stranded for hours until a passing Vietnamese vessel rescued them.

China said the Chinese vessel had not intended to leave the Filipinos, but was forced to sail away for fear of being besieged by several other Filipino boats near the area.

The owner of the Chinese vessel later apologized for the “unintentional mistake” of his fishermen.

The settlement of the Gem-Vir allision issue was discussed during the sixth meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea last Friday, which was hosted virtually by the Philippines.—AOL, GMA News