Filipino-Chinese business group donates P1.2 million to fishermen in Recto Bank incident

June 28, 2019

The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerse and Industry Inc, (FFCCCII) donated P1.2 million to rehabilitate the fishing boat being rammed by a Chinese fishing vessel near Recto Bank in West Philippine Sea.

In a press conference on Friday, Henry Lim Bon Liong, the FFCCCII president, said the federation will also provide a total of P250,000 livelihood assistance and 50 sacks of rice (worth P100,000 pesos) for the 22 Filipino fishermen involved in the Recto Bank incident.

“As an organization which advocates Philippine social and economic progress, (FFCCCII) is giving our immediate assistance and support to our fellow countrymen the 22 fishermen,” he said.

“We at the FFCCCII are donating P1,200,000 for the complete rehabilitation of their damaged fishing boat and we are also donating P250,000 as livelihood assistance for the 22 fishermen,” he added.

The press conference that was attended by four of the 22 fishermen including boat Captain Junel Insigne and Felix dela Torre, owner of FB Gimver 1, was held at the Annabel’s restaurant in Thomas Morato.

Lim said the federation will also donate five public school buildings (amounting to a total of more than two million pesos) for the children in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

There will be five school buildings that will be built in the municipality of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro and hopefully we’ll do it immediately…", he said.

Dela Torre and Insigne noted the importance of the assistance provided by the FFCCCII to their families and their future.

“We the 22 fishermen are thankful to the FFCCCII for their assistance for us and for our families. This crisis really affects our daily lives as well as our future,'' they said.

''That is why we thank the Filipino Chinese community and the FFCCCII (because) the rehabilitation of our vessel may last for four months,” Insigne said.

“Because of your help we will be able to repair our damaged boat, your assistance give us new hope from the bottom of my heart I thank the Filipino Chinese community and the FFCCCII, may God bless you,” Dela Tore added. .

Lim said the assistance they have provided to the 22 fishermen does not have  any conditions.

“I don’t think so, I don’t think so. This assistance has no strings attached, ” he said when asked if he think this will affect the fishermen's statement when the joint investigation of the incident was made.

The Department of National Defense, quoting the fishermen, said on June 12 they were rammed by a Chinese boat and left in the sea before they were rescued by a Vietnamese ship.

When Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol interviewed the fishermen, he said they cannot '' determine if it’s (collision) intentional or accidental.” Pinol cited the ship's cook who claimed the Chinese vessel may not have seen them.

The Philippines and China are separately investigating the incident. Robina Asido/DMS