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Politics

APOLOGY BY CHINESE TRAWLER OWNER SIDESTEPS ABANDONMENT ISSUE – GORDON

The owner of the Chinese trawler may have apologized more than two months after the vessel hit a Philippine fishing vessel near the Recto Bank, but the apology did not acknowledge the abandonment of the Filipino fishermen who were abandoned at sea, Senator Dick Gordon has pointed out. “No mention has been made of the […]

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Politics

IMPOSE STIFFER PENALTIES FOR NOT RESCUING DISTRESSED PERSONS AT SEA – TOLENTINO

A bill seeking to impose stiff penalties for those who will refuse or fail to help persons in distress at sea has been filed at the Senate. Senator Francis Tolentino said he filed Senate Bill No. 209, otherwise known as the Good Samaritan At Sea Law, with the aim of implementing international laws concerning safety […]

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Politics

ENSURE FILIPINO FISHERMEN IN REED BANK INCIDENT ARE PROPERLY COMPENSATED — ABANTE

House Minority Leader and Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr. on Thursday said he welcomed the apology of the Chinese fishermen over the June Reed Bank incident that resulted in the sinking of F/B Gem-Ver and endangered the lives of its 22-man crew, saying it was “a first positive step to obtaining justice for […]

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Government

IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT VS DUTERTE WILL NOT PROSPER – NOGRALES

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles expressed confidence that any impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte will not prosper. “I don’t think they have a strong case against the President.” “I don’t think they have a strong case against the President,” Nograles said in an interview with Palace reporters. Critics of the President had earlier claimed that […]

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Politics

ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL BUDGET FOR THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD – GORDON

To ensure that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is capable of immediately coming to the rescue of Filipino fishermen who are in distress at sea, Senator Dick Gordon is pushing for the allocation of additional budget for boosting the agency’s capability. Gordon made the proposal in the wake of the incident at the Recto Bank […]

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Government

WE DENOUNCE THE ACT OF THE CHINESE VESSEL IN ABANDONING FISHERMEN IN DISTRESS – PIÑOL

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, together with the 22 rescued fishermen who called themselves the “Recto Bank 22,” denounced the act of the crew of the Chinese vessel for abandoning them after ramming their boat, the F/B Gem-Vir 1.  “We denounce the act of the Chinese vessel in abandoning the fishermen in distress,” Piñol said in a […]

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Politics

DISTRESSED PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ABANDONED AT SEA – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon pointed out that the issue on the recent sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea is that distressed people should not be left abandoned at sea. Gordon said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang missed the point being because the crux […]

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Government

FISHERMEN RESCUED FROM RECTO BANK COLLISION GETS BFAR AID – PIÑOL

The government, through the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), has committed to help the 22 fishermen who were abandoned after their fishing boat was allegedly hit by a Chinese vessel at Recto Bank (Reed Bank) on June 9. DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, said BFAR Regional Director Elizer Salilig recently welcomed the […]

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Politics

CREW OF CHINESE VESSEL COMMITTED ACTS OF INHUMANITY – GORDON

Senator Dick Gordon denounced the reported abandonment of Filipino crewmen by the Chinese vessel that hit their boat in the West Philippine Sea, saying the crew of the Chinese boat committed acts of inhumanity in violation of international laws and treaties. In separate statements, Gordon said the abandonment of the Filipino crew by the Chinese […]

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Politics

RESCUE OF ALL PERSONS IN DISTRESS AT SEA IS A HUMANITARIAN DUTY – PIMENTEL

Senator Koko Pimentel III condemned the reported abandonment of Filipino crewmen by the Chinese vessel that hit their boat, saying the rescue of all persons in distress at sea is a matter of humanitarian duty. Pimentel, who will head the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 18th Congress based on Senate President Vicente Sotto […]