EDITORIAL – Duterte Insists a Third Party Investigation

A Chinese vessel hit and sank a Filipino fishing boat anchored in Recto Bank in
Palawan last weekend, and sailed away without rescuing the Filipino fishermen
floundering in the water.

Subsequently, President Duterte approved to a joint investigation and is now eager to

have a third party conduct an inquiry into the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat, after it was
hit by a Chinese vessel, which abandoned the fishermen at the West Philippine Sea on
June 9.

Responding to media questions, Duterte said a self-governing marine board of inquiry

could conduct the third party probe even as the two countries carry out separate
investigations and try to settle conflicting details.

The Philippine government has completed a preliminary investigation of the

incident, in which a Chinese seafaring militia vessel was alleged involved. Beijing has
denied the 22 Filipino fishermen’s story that their boat, the Gem-Vir or GemVer, was
intentionally struck by the Chinese. Beijing is still investigating the Filipinos’ protest that
they were abandoned in the water and saved, only four hours later by a Vietnamese
fishing vessel.

Filipinos cannot thank Vietnam enough for being truly a friend in need. If Philippine
bonds with China are to recover from this latest tension, the investigation of what
President Duterte defined as a “diminutive maritime occurrence” should have
unquestionable credibility. This is regardless of whether the inquiry is directed jointly or
separately by the two nations, or with a third party participating.

Beijing has assured to enforce punishment if there were wrongdoings committed by the
squad of the Chinese ship. As acquaintance of the Philippines, China will be held to its
promise. The relationship must be fortified by the truth, which strengthen an unbiased,
trustworthy investigation.

Legal representatives may want to step in to guarantee that the fishermen will not
be prejudiced in any way in their description of their ordeal, especially by any government
official. Investigators should also request the Vietnamese to report what happened,
because their story concerning the rescue, jives with the primary one given by the Filipino
fishermen.

If it is true that a Chinese ship was really responsible for the sinking of the Filipino fishing
vessel, then it is only appropriate for the Philippine government to demand justice from
the Chinese government over the incident.