Rappler's latest stories on Chinese fishing vessels
China using fishing vessels for surveillance, control of West PH Sea – DND
Chinese fishing vessels complement Chinese naval and coast guard ships, and could be used for 'asymmetric warfare of sea control and sea denial' against Filipinos, the defense department says in a report to a lawmaker
Senators want Chinese ship owner to pay damages to Gem-Ver fishermen
Senator Francis Pangilinan welcomes the apology, but does not think it should be taken as a matter of fact. The apology calls Reed Bank part of the Nansha Island Group.
Philippines accepts apology of Chinese ship owner
The Philippines welcomes the acknowledgment that compensation must be provided to the owner of Filipino fishing boat Gem-Ver
Carpio corrects China ship owner's apology: Recto Bank not part of Spratlys
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio says Recto Bank is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, 'beyond the territorial sea of any island in the Spratlys'
PODCAST: Gem-Ver: The men, the crash, the journey home
It's been 2 months since a Chinese trawler rammed a Filipino fishing boat in the West Philippine Sea. In this podcast, Rappler revisits that harrowing night, and more.
Coast Guard will still stop Chinese boats fishing in PH waters – Esperon
The National Security Adviser, however, emphasizes that the Philippines does not have enough resources to fully protect its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea
WATCH: Gem-Ver fishermen eager to sail again
On the shores of Occidental Mindoro, the fishermen of Gem-Ver try to rebuild their damaged boat so they could set out to sail once again
THE SINKING OF GEM-VER: Barko! May babanggang barko!
From out of the blue, a metal vessel smashes a Filipino fishing boat anchored at Reed Bank, the impact sounding like a hundred bones breaking. This must be death, say the fishermen.
FALSE: Maritime law expert 'lied' about satellite image of Recto Bank
In his screenshot, maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal also uses a layer from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suit which captures satellite images on Earth in real time
PH to sue Chinese ship crew in local courts if China fails to penalize them
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo says the Philippines can file a case on 'reckless imprudence resulting to serious damage of property' against the captain and crew of the Chinese ship that hit F/B Gem-Ver
Final PCG-Marina report: Chinese ship failed to prevent sea collision
The Chinese ship abandoned the Filipino crew of F/B Gem-Ver despite 'direct knowledge of their distress situation,' in violation of two maritime conventions, according to the official findings of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority
Initial Coast Guard report: Chinese ship captain liable for maritime law violations
The initial report also attests to how the Chinese ship abandoned the Gem-Ver crew
Robredo to Vietnamese ambassador: Thank you for saving our fishermen
'Thank you...not just in behalf of the fishermen, but in behalf of the people of the Philippines,' says Vice President Leni Robredo to Vietnamese Ambassador Ly Quoc Tuan
Stop putting China over Filipinos – Del Rosario
'When will we stop giving our northern neighbor primacy over our own people?' says former Philippine foreign secretary Albert del Rosario
Duterte vs fishermen: Is the Philippines lawyering for China?
President Rodrigo Duterte and his alter egos doubt their own countrymen whose boat was sunk by a Chinese ship in the West Philippine Sea on June 9, 2019
Justice Carpio refutes Duterte gov't: China can't fish in PH
(3rd UPDATE) 'No government official can waive this sovereign right of the Filipino people without their consent,' says Justice Antonio Carpio
Sotto claims Chinese vessel did not sink Philippine fishing boat
Quoting a 'Coast Guard expert,' Senate President Vicente Sotto III says the Chinese vessel did not sink F/B Gem-Ver in the West Philippine Sea
Del Rosario donates P500,000 to PH fishermen sunk by China
(UPDATED) Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr returns to ex-top diplomat Albert del Rosario his P500,000 donation to the Recto Bank fishermen
Senators oppose joint Recto Bank probe by PH, China
(2nd UPDATE) 'It will never be a fair investigation when one is the oppressed and the other is the oppressor,' says Senator Francis Pangilinan
PH backtracks, downplays 3rd party in Recto Bank probe
(UPDATED) This comes after Duterte government officials made categorical statements about involving an independent 3rd party in the Recto Bank investigation
Sereno: Tri-party probe of Recto Bank incident 'overt surrender of sovereignty'
(UPDATED) 'The incident happened in Philippine waters, to Filipino citizens, whose laws immediately apply, and where jurisdiction, unless surrendered, vests exclusively in Philippine courts or appropriate administrative agencies,' says former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
Robredo visits Filipino fishermen, provides assistance
Each of the 22 fishermen receives P50,000 under the Office of the Vice President's Angat Buhay Program
Gem-Ver captain's wife on joint probe with China: 'Hiwalay dapat'
Lanie Insigne, the wife of Gem-Ver captain Junel, asks government to conduct a separate probe into the boat sinking incident to ensure fairness
Panelo fumes at Lacson, says Recto Bank issue fueled by 'pretended nationalism'
The Presidential Spokesman bristles at Senator Panfilo Lacson's observation that he appears to be lawyering for China
Lorenzana contradicts Locsin: Yes to joint probe with China
While the DFA secretary says there will be no joint probe on the Filipino boat sinking incident in the West Philippine Sea, the defense secretary says he will support one
Despite Duterte openness, Locsin rejects joint PH-China probe
(UPDATED) 'Who the fuck is this guy?' says Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, referring to an analyst who spoke of the proposed joint probe into the Recto Bank incident
Hours before he is held in HK, Del Rosario hits PH-China probe
'Can we please not insult the intelligence of our people?' says ex-foreign secretary Albert del Rosario on the proposed joint investigation of the Recto Bank incident
Fisheries code empowers PH to fine Chinese vessel for just being in Reed Bank
(3rd UPDATE) The fisheries code is clear: entry of any foreign fishing vessel in Philippine waters shall constitute prima facie evidence that the vessel is engaged in fishing in Philippine waters. The Philippines can fine the foreign vessel up to US$1 Million
Robredo to dialogue with Gem-Ver fishermen on June 21
'As far as I understand, dialogue is the main agenda,' says Vice President Leni Robredo's spokesperson Barry Gutierrez
Duterte open to PH-China probe into Recto Bank boat sinking
President Rodrigo Duterte gives a thumbs up to the suggestion of the Chinese government for Manila and Beijing to conduct a joint investigation into the incident
Guevarra proposes PH-China probe of Recto Bank incident
'The objective is to determine the facts and allocate accountabilities in a joint, instead of an adversarial, manner,’ says Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
WATCH: Government gives aid to Gem-Ver crew
But is it enough to cover all the damages incurred?
Piñol: Get the Chinese crewmen's side of the story
(UPDATED) Now that Gem-Ver's fishermen say they are not sure anymore if they were intentionally hit or not, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol says the side of the Chinese crewmen has to be heard as well
PODCAST: Impunity in the West Philippine Sea
Gaano kaimportante ang tugon ng administrasyong Duterte sa nangyaring banggaan?
PH boat sinking 'wake-up call' to finish South China Sea code – analysts
China experts say the long-delayed document would serve as a 'concrete and strong mechanism' for stability in the region
Gem-Ver captain to Duterte: Hold Chinese ship captain accountable
F/B Gem-Ver's captain and crew also want the government to help them keep Recto Bank exclusively for Filipino fishermen
Selective outrage? How Duterte reacted to other foreign affronts to Filipinos
When an OFW was found dead in a freezer, Duterte gave the Kuwait government an ultimatum. When he saw foreign interference, he cursed at foreign leaders. But he chooses caution towards China in the Recto Bank ramming.
Cook of Gem-Ver crew: 'China is lying'
'Noong paglapit [namin] sa kanila para makapagsaklolo, para matulungan kami, sumibat na sila. Tapos sabihin nila kami pa ang nagsisinungaling?' says Richard Blaza
EXPLAINER: Boat sinking at Recto Bank – from indignation to dismissal
The Philippine government's messaging on the ramming of a Filipino boat by a Chinese vessel, evolves from confused to echoing China's line
PH-China ties should not 'cover up' Filipino fishermen's accounts – analyst
Security analyst Rommel Banlaoi says warmer ties pursued by the Duterte administration with China should not deny justice to the 22 Filipino fishermen of F/B Gem-Ver who were abandoned at sea
Panelo 'lawyering for China' on Philippine boat sinking incident, says Lacson
'Parang ang mindset niya, defense counsel na nag-e-enter ng appearance for China if he was in a courtroom,' says Senator Panfilo Lacson of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo
Chinese should apologize for PH boat sinking – Lorenzana
(UPDATED) While he sees the ramming of the Filipino fishing boat as an 'accident,' Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says the damage inflicted warrants an apology and compensation
Lorenzana on Filipino boat sinking: 'It's just an accident'
(UPDATED) 'I think it's just an accident, based on information we got from the crew. Maybe the other side did not intend to bump them,' says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Filipino fishermen awake when Chinese ship rammed their boat
Contrary to the claims of Malacañang, the crewmen of Fishing Boat Gem-Ver were awake before the Chinese boat rammed them. There is more than one witness.
Vietnamese account matches Filipino fishermen's story
They were tired, hungry, and cold
Has the sinking incident in the West PH Sea polarized Filipinos?
Filipino netizens have been giving clashing opinions since the event was reported
Lacson: Duterte's statement on Recto Bank incident 'left us heartbroken'
(3rd UPDATE) 'He forgot to explore all resources available before exercising his last option of surrender,' Senator Panfilo Lacson says of President Rodrigo Duterte's first-ever statement on the Philippine boat sinking in the West Philippine Sea
Lorenzana doubts if PH boat sinking was intentional
'Nabangga nga talaga pero was it intentional or not, mayroon nang doubt ngayon eh kung intentional o hindi,' says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Duterte dismisses PH boat sinking as 'maritime incident'
(3rd UPDATE) President Rodrigo Duterte spares China from criticism in his first statement on the sinking of a Filipino boat by a Chinese ship in the West Philippine Sea
[OPINION] Mitraydor na gyud ka’g maayo, Mayor!
Nganong anaon man intawon ninyo nang mga pobreng mananagat Mayor? Abi nako mulaban ka sa mga Pinoy? Imbis kana ang imong gibuhat, imo hinuong gipasakitan sila sa pinaagi sa mga insulto ni Locsin ug ni Panelo.
