Palace says no contradiction on PCG-Marina report, Duterte’s statement on Recto Bank boat sinking

July 8, 2019

Malacanang said on Monday there was no contradiction on the supposed result of the investigation by Philippine authorities that the June 9 boat sinking incident in Recto Bank was a "very serious marine casualty" and that of President Rodrigo Duterte's statement it was "just a little maritime accident."

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he has yet to see the official joint investigation report of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority, which was submitted to Malacanang on June 20.

"But assuming that to be true, the phrase...very serious marine casualty...there is no contradiction," he said.

"In so far as that incident is concerned given the fact the Filipinos were placed in a dangerous situation where they could have been dead, then that's serious...but when the President says it's not that serious enough to blow it into (an) international crisis, that is what he meant. So, both of them are correct," explained Panelo, who is also the chief presidential legal counsel.

He said abandoning the 22 Filipino crew members of ill-fated FBCA Gem-ver by the Chinese vessel was a serious matter.

"It is serious in the sense that when you leave our countrymen there after that accident, then that’s a serious matter, we will not allow that. You have to be accountable for that," he said.

Panelo said the Philippine government would file charges against the Chinese who left the Filipino fishermen after the incident.

However, he said this would take place after the Philippine report has been compared with the Chinese government's own findings.

"(Foreign Affairs) Secretary (Teodoro) Locsin (Jr.) said they're going to compare our findings as against their findings, then they will issue a joint statement," he said.

He said the only way the Chinese could justify their action of abandoning the Filipino fishermen is if their lives were in danger.

"That's the only reason that they could not be accountable," he said.

But based on the initial report, he said there was no threat on the part of the Chinese when the incident happened.

Panelo said it would be up to Duterte and Locsin if the official joint investigation report by the PCG and Marina would be made public.

The result of the PCG-Marina joint investigation came out in some new reports, but this came from sources and not officially released by the government. Celerina Monte/DMS