Fishing boat with Pinoys sinks off Brunei Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) - August 13, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — A fishing vessel carrying 11 crewmembers – including seven Filipinos – capsized off the coast of Brunei last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday. Citing a report of the Philippine embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan, the DFA said two of the 11 crewmembers of Brunei-flagged Radims 2 were rescued before search and rescue operations ended on Sunday, or four days after the incident. The DFA did not disclose the nationality of the survivors. “The search and rescue operations were halted yesterday as no crewmembers in the identified search area, other than the two previously rescued, were found,” the DFA said in a statement. According to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, the last communication between the owner of Radims 2 and its captain was on Aug.7. … [Read more...] about Fishing boat with Pinoys sinks off Brunei
Once sinking boat chords
Robredo pushes third-party probe of boat sinking
MANILA, Philippines — An independent third party should conduct the investigation on the June 9 sinking of a Filipino fishing boat near Recto Bank, Vice President Leni Robredo said yesterday. Robredo added she is against the planned joint investigation by China and the Philippines on the incident, in which Chinese trawler Yuemaobinyu 42212 hit and sank the fishing boat Gem-Vir (Gem Ver) 1, leaving the 22 Filipino fishermen floating in the sea for four hours. “I’m not confident… the main issue here is because (China) continued to bully us. That’s the reason why I am not confident with a bilateral talk,” the Vice President said over dzXL. “What we want is multilateral. Apart from the investigation to be conducted separately by both countries, we hope that there is a private, third party, who will investigate on the incident too without biases,” she said. Robredo said a third party investigation would be neutral and based … [Read more...] about Robredo pushes third-party probe of boat sinking
Beware of propaganda about boat ramming
Beware of propaganda about boat ramming A communist must be a good propagandist, Mao Zedong directed. So China’s communist rulers contrive lofty aims behind their schemes. Despite authoritarian and military might, they pretend to be underdogs. Beijing’s spin about its maritime militia’s ramming of a Filipino fishing boat follows the script. Supposedly in the dead of night of June 9, seven to eight Filipino craft ganged up on a lone Chinese vessel. In retreat the latter inadvertently hit fishing boat Gem-Ver 1, throwing 22 Filipino crewmen into the water. The Chinese then valiantly stopped to check for survivors and left only after ascertaining the arrival of rescuers. Still, if the Chinese later are found in the wrong, they allegedly would be reeducated and punished. It’s as if they’re aggrieved, yet will abide by rule of law. Slyly obscured are the facts. For one, the huge Chinese launch Yuemaobinyu 42212 from Hainan is steel … [Read more...] about Beware of propaganda about boat ramming
BFAR pledges fiberglass boats to survivors of sinking boat
BFAR pledges fiberglass boats to survivors of sinking boat (Philstar.com) - June 15, 2019 - 1:14pm MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources committed to provide assistance to the crew of the Philippine fishing boat that was rammed by a Chinese vessel in the West Philippine Sea. Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol on Facebook said BFAR Regional Director Elizer Salilig has pledged to give 22 fiberglass boats to the crew of fishing boat Gem-Vir 1. The fiberglass boats, Piñol said, would have complete accessories including engine and nets. The Agriculture chief added that Salilig has also distributed 22 sacks of rice to the fishermen upon their arrival in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro Friday. The Chinese Embassy in Manila admitted that it was a Chinese fishing boat that hit Gem-Vir 1. It, however, denied the incident that led to the sinking of the Filipino fishing boat last June 9 was a … [Read more...] about BFAR pledges fiberglass boats to survivors of sinking boat
Indonesia to sink scores of boats to deter illegal fishing
PONTIANAK: Indonesia began sinking dozens of impounded foreign boats Saturday (May 4) to deter illegal fishing in its waters, a week after a naval vessel clashed with a Vietnamese coastguard near the South China Sea.Up to 51 foreign boats - including from Vietnam, Malaysia and China - will be scuttled at several different locations over the next two weeks, officials said.Over a dozen were scuttled Saturday near Pontianak, in West Kalimantan province.Fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti said the action was necessary to warn neighbouring countries that Indonesia was serious about fighting illegal fishing."There's no other way," she said. "This is actually the most beautiful solution for our nation, but yes, it's scary for other countries."She said Indonesia suffered great economic loss from lax regulations that gave leeway for foreign boats to fish in Indonesian waters.Since president Joko Widodo took office in 2014, hundreds of captured foreign fishing vessels have been sunk - more … [Read more...] about Indonesia to sink scores of boats to deter illegal fishing