Misfortune hounds the GemVer 1 as Ursula batters the fishing boat

The GemVer 1, a fishing boat rammed by a Chinese fishing vessel last June at the Recto Bank, was again badly damaged just over a month since it was patched up by San Jose-Occidental Mindoro fishermen, this time by Typhoon Ursula.

San Jose Mayor Romulo Festin lamented that the GemVer 1 was among the many fishing boats nearly destroyed by the recent typhoon.

“‘Yung aming mga fisherfolk ay durog-durog ‘yung bangka. 'Yung GemVer na kagagawa lang… talagang giba rin,” he told reporters last Friday.

Occidental Mindoro was among the areas placed under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of Ursula.

“Dahil sa lakas ng alon at hangin, walang kalaban-labang itinumba ito sa dalampasigan. Labis ang kalungkutan ni Ginoong Felix Dela Torre, ang may ari ng bangka dahil sa insidenteng ito,” the local government of Occidental Mindoro said in its Facebook page. 

After being rammed by a Chinese fishing vessel in the disputed Reed or Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea, the GemVer 1 was repaired using parts from a boat donated by the Chinese following the incident. 

The GemVer sailed back into the Recto Bank last November 23. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News