Panelo prods ‘Recto bank 22’ to file compensation claim by themselves, or thru proper entity

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo on Monday prodded the 22 Filipino fishermen whose boat was rammed by a Chinese vessel to file — by themselves or through a “proper entity” — a claim for compensation from the foreign shipowner.

An Inquirer report bared that since the owner’s apology last month, the fishermen from Mindoro have only received a “used” commercial fishing boat to replace their damaged vessel, Gem-Ver 1.

READ: What PH fishers got after Chinese apology

Asked about this, Panelo said in Filipino: “A lot of sectors have donated to them. I think it reached millions… You have to file an insurance claim, then let the process proceed.”

While he does not know if the fishermen had already filed for compensation claims, Panelo said the Filipino fishermen should file the claim by themselves or through the help of their mayor or a “proper entity.”

“Bakit naman hindi [Why not by themselves?] Don’t underestimate the fishermen, they can go to their mayor for instance and ask help, oh eh ‘di dadalhin sila ng mayor dun sa [or the mayor could direct them to the] proper entity,” he said.

On June 9, a Chinese vessel rammed and sank an anchored Filipino fishing boat, leaving the crew members of the floundering fishing boat stranded for four hours until a passing Vietnamese vessel rescued them.

President Rodrigo Duterte had dismissed the incident as a “little maritime accident,” almost similar to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang’s remark that the boat ramming was “an ordinary maritime traffic accident.”/ac