Sotto, Tolentino welcome Chinese vessel owner’s apology on Recto Bank incident

Two senators welcomed Wednesday the apology issued by the owner of the Chinese ship that hit Filipino fishing boat Gen-Vir 1 in Recto Bank last June and left 22 crew members stranded at sea for hours.

“That’s an excellent welcome to the visit of the President,” Senate President Vicente Sotto III said in a text message to GMA News Online, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte’s official visit to China.

Senator Francis Tolentino said the apology coming from the Chinese side, while two months late, shows the validity of the Philippine version of the incident.

“The letter (of apology) shows the righteousness, correctness, validity of the Filipino version of the said ramming incident…nagpapatunay ito na tama po ang posisyon ng ating bansa at ang nagkamali po talaga ay ang vessel ng Tsina,” he said in his manifestation at the Senate plenary.

He said the Philippines should pursue the civil claim for damages to give justice to the fishermen as well as “seek other routes to protect them in the future hand in hand with our sovereign rights.”

“Dapat po sigurong  ituloy ang pagpupursige ng damages sang-ayon sa liham ng Chinese association upang mabigyan ng  hustiya ang ating mga Filipino fishermen,” he said.

He also pushed for the passage of his pending bill on the safety on sea which will ensure the safety and guarantee civil compensation for all those who will be involved in similar incidents.

Earlier in the day, the Philippine Embassy in China tweeted its memorandum for Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. containing its translation of a key portion of the apology letter by the Chinese ship's owner.

"The shipowner of the Chinese fishing boat involved, through our association, would like to express his sincere apology to the Filipino fishermen," read an excerpt of the English translation of the letter of apology.

"We believe that, although this accident was an unintentional mistake of the Chinese fishermen, the Chinese fishing boat should however take the major responsibility in the accident. The Philippine side is requested to file a specific appeal for civil compensation based on the actual loss," it added. — MDM, GMA News