Senate President Tito Sotto is convinced that the Chinese trawler did not deliberately hit and sink the Filipino fishing vessel in the Recto Bank last June 9.
Sotto aired his belief yesterday after seeking opinion from an “Coast Guard expert” on the Recto Bank incident two weeks ago.
He shared to reporters the unnamed expert’s response to his queries.
In a text message, Sotto’s source noted how the Filipino fishing vessel F/B Gem-Ver 1 was only “hit slightly” on its astern or rear part, adding that “intentional ramming would be thru the side.”
The expert also theorized that since it was the Chinese vessel’s boom that hit the mast of the Filipino fishing boat, the former might not have noticed the Gem-Ver 1 until it was close.
“Which could mean that the Chinese only saw the FB (Filipino fishing boat) when it was near and tried to do a hard left or hard right with its engines on full astern, thus, the damage is minimal.”
The expert told Sotto that while it is impossible, it be should verified whether the mast of the Filipino boat was lighted or not.
“Critical in this boat sinking is did the anchored Philippine banca have a white masthead light on. If it did the collision was deliberate. If it didn’t it could be accidental,” Sotto said.
“I concluded SINKING sa query para madiin but apparently there was no sinking,” he added.
Sotto had earlier expressed doubts that the ramming of the Gem-Ver 1 may have been intentional on the part of the Chinese ship. He said an investigation should be conducted first before making conclusions contrary to appeals to charge China over the Recto Bank incident.
He said it should not be considered an “international incident” and China should not be blamed for the actions of the Chinese crew. (Vanne Terrazola)