Pinol leads team to oversee helping 22 Filipino fishermen: Nograles

June 17, 2019

Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol was designated as chairman of the government response team which is focused on helping the 22 abandoned fishermen near Recto Bank, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Monday

During their joint special cluster meeting, Nograles said Pinol has been directed to tap available government resources,  including from his department and the Department of Social Welfare and Development ''to assist our countrymen.''

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi is Pinol's co-leader.

Nograles said the joint meeting of the economic development and security, justice, and peace clusters was held to tackle issues relative to the West Philippine Sea/Reed Bank incident that resulted in the sinking of the fishing boat Gem-Vir 1 that endangered the lives of its 22-man Filipino crew.

He said these fishermen were later rescued by a Vietnamese vessel.

"The objective of the meeting was twofold: the protection of our countrymen and the exercise of our nation’s rights in our exclusive economic zone," said Nograles.

He said the initial action by the government is the filing of a strongly-worded diplomatic protest that was handed over to the deputy chief of mission of the Chinese Embassy last June 13.

"Aside from this, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Region IV-B Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) have conducted initial inquiries regarding the incident to determine the extent of the liabilities involved and in order to ascertain the most effective legal means to obtain justice for our countrymen," he said. 

He added these efforts will be complemented by further investigations to be jointly led by the Maritime Industry Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard.

Last Sunday, Nograles said the result of the meeting will be reported to the president for him to make a statement on the issue. Ella Dionisio/DMS