The shipowner of the Chinese vessel that took part in the June 2019 incident near Recto Bank, has now apologized to the Filipino fishermen, whose boat was damaged. However, they highlighted that the collision was accidental.
According to the Guangdong Fishery Mutual Insurance Association, on a letter it sent to the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, the shipowner of the Chinese fishing boat involved, ‘would like to express his sincere apology to the Filipino fishermen’.
What is more, the letter gives emphasises on the findings of the association’s own investigation, which concluded that the Chinese ship involved was a member of their group. It added that:
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
In the meantime, it calls the Philippine side to file an appeal for civil compensation, according to the actual loss of the Filipinos that were impacted.
In fact, the associations said that it will urge the shipowner of the fishing boat involved to coordinate with the Philippine side, in order to facilitate the latter’s claim for compensation, based on the procedures for insurance claim.
The incident regarded the Filipino fishing boat Gem-Ver1, as well as a Chinese vessel, at an area within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Due to the collision, Gem-Ver1 sank, and the 22 Filipino crew were in the water for several hours, before being rescued by a Vietnamese fishing boat.
