In fishers’ send-off, Duterte preaches compassion, friendship

GOING HOME These Vietnamese fishermen, earlier held in Pangasinan province for poaching in Philippine waters, are going home as President Duterte fulfills his promise to release them. —JOAN BONDOC

SUAL, PANGASINAN—Saying the country needed to act with compassion and friendship like other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), President Duterte on Wednesday sent off the crew of a Vietnamese fishing vessel who were arrested in September during a confrontation with the Navy.

Two Vietnamese fishermen were killed when a Navy boat intercepted Vietnamese fishing boat PY96173T3 in the waters off Bolinao town in Pangasinan province on Sept. 23.

After a monthlong investigation, the provincial committee on illegal entrants recommended the prosecution of two Navy officers and eight enlisted personnel for the deaths of the Vietnamese fishermen.

But Vietnamese Ambassador Ly Quoc Tuan said his government would not pursue charges against the Navy for the deaths of crew members Le Van Liem and Le Van Reo. Their bodies were discovered after the Navy boat fired warning shots.

Mr. Duterte did not mention the deaths, but referred to an “incident” for which he apologized to the ambassador during a send-off speech he gave here.

“I’m sorry for the incident. I hope it never happens again … This incident will not destroy the strong relationship between our countries,” the President said, adding that he has opened his channels to the ambassador in case something untoward happens in the future.

Citing the Asean Summit held in Manila last month, he said all the countries “agreed that peace among the members must be preserved and cooperation and assistance must always be present.”

He said the agreement protected fishermen, who get lost at sea due to storms and wind up in foreign territory, or who cross marine borders to poach.

Mr. Duterte said he agreed to send the Vietnamese fishermen home during bilateral talks with Vietnam during the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit held there.

“This is something I consider a minor [offense]. We can find forgiveness in the larger picture of the Asean … It was also their promise that they will treat our poor citizens with understanding if they happen to reach [Vietnamese sea lanes],” Mr. Duterte said.

President Duterte hands a bag full of food and other provisions to a Vietnamese fisherman in Sual town, Pangasinan province. At right is Vietnamese Ambassador Ly Quoc Tuan. —WILLIE LOMIBAO

Tuan said: “As your president said, [we are] an Asian family and everything [troubling] we solve in the spirit of friendship, amity and solidarity.”

He said Vietnam had rescued Filipino fishermen in their waters before. “We take care of them and ask the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam to pick them up and bring them home,” Tuan said.

Tuan was present at the Sual municipal wharf in the morning when the government loaded the Vietnamese vessel with food and other provisions sufficient for eight days, which was the duration of their sea travel home.

The boat carried its captain, Pham To, and crew members, Pham Net, Nguyen Thanh Chi, Nguyen Yan Trong and Phan Lam, who have stayed in their boat since their capture. The fishermen are from Zone V Phudong, Tuyhoa City, Phuyen Province, in Vietnam.

The Department of Health issued them certificates indicating they were physically fit when they left Sual port.

The Vietnamese boat was escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard as far as 200 nautical miles from the Philippine coast.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the Vietnamese fishermen were poaching. Agriculture Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona, BFAR director, said the agency had waived the fines after learning that they were indigents in their country.

Tuan thanked Mr. Duterte, saying: “This time of the year is very significant for the Vietnamese because the lunar new year in late January is a family reunion for every Vietnamese. Your order to send them off will surely bring happiness to their families. They will forever cherish the good treatment that the Philippines had shown them.” —GABRIEL CARDINOZA AND YOLANDA SOTELO