Rappler's latest stories on Filipino fishing vessels
The second sinking of Gem-Ver
Part 1: Rappler returns to San Jose 5 months later, in November, as the crewmen finish their repairs and prepare to sail back to Recto Bank. While Gem-Ver has been patched up, its men have drifted apart.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: The new fishermen of Gem-Ver
Ten new crew members of fishing boat Gem-Ver prepare to sail again to Recto Bank
Gem-Ver owner, fishermen unsatisfied with China ship owner's apology
'Paano na 'yung danyos perwisyo nila sa aming mga mangingisda? At lalong-lalo na po sa may-ari ng bangka?' says Bannie Condeza, one of Gem-Ver's fishermen
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.
Aurora Pijuan auctions Miss International crown for Gem-Ver fishermen
The gold and pearl-encrusted crown is being sold at an online auction by the Leòn Gallery
Despite Duterte, Gem-Ver fishermen buckle down to work
The fishermen come home but government disowns their narrative about what happened at Recto Bank and gives away bare boats. They prepare to sail again in dangerous waters.
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
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: The fishermen of Gem-Ver
On the shores of home in Barangay San Roque, Occidental Mindoro, the men of Gem-Ver tell their stories
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
Panelo sees no contradiction between PCG-Marina report, Duterte
Philippine Coast Guard and Marina investigators conclude the Recto Bank incident was a 'serious marine casualty' while President Rodrigo Duterte previously calls it a 'little maritime accident'
Not right for Palace to pit two constitutional provisions vs each other – law expert
The charter's order for the government to keep resources in the Philippines' EEZ for exclusive use of Filipinos is not in conflict with the provision requiring the government to 'serve and protect' Filipinos, says law professor Tony La Viña
Lacson says Duterte deal with China nothing but words
(UPDATED) And because they're mere words, what would be the basis for impeaching the President?
DSWD assures fishermen of sunken boat 'continuous assistance'
The Department of Social Welfare and Development says it will continue to assist the 22 fishermen of F/B Gem-Ver until 'they have fully recovered from the incident and are able to live normal lives'
Duterte wants China to guarantee rights, safety of PH fishermen
President Rodrigo Duterte told Cabinet officials that the Recto Bank incident will be discussed in the next round of bilateral meetings with China, says Malacañang
China rejects third party in Recto Bank joint probe – Panelo
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo says the Philippines will still 'suggest' the inclusion of a neutral country in the joint inquiry, if China and the Philippines have conflicting findings on the Recto Bank incident
[EDITORIAL] #AnimatED: Salamat Tito Sen
Thanks, but no thanks, we don't need you for the laughter – what we need is an independent Senate to check this insanity
[OPINION] A facade of smiles over the Recto Bank incident
From within the government's ranks, all is definitely not well with President Duterte’s pro-Beijing policy
Sunken boat incident not affecting business between PH, China
FFCCCII President Henry Lim Bon Liong says business ties between Manila and Beijing remain solid despite the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat in the West Philippine Sea
U.P. Visayas community slams Duterte government's 'blatant disregard' for PH fishermen
'We cannot wait for any more blatant disregard of our fisherfolk before taking a stand against these oppressive responses of the Duterte administration,' says the UPV College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Student Council
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
Filipino-Chinese businessmen give P1.2 million for sunken boat’s repair
(UPDATED) Boat owner Felix dela Torre, Gem-Ver Captain Junel Insigne, cook Richard Blaza, and fisherman Jaypee Gordiones attend the turnover ceremony in Quezon City on June 28
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
[EDITORIAL] #AnimatED: May hangganan pala ang nasyonalismo ni Duterte
Ito ang dunong at husay makipagpatintero sa mga sangganong imperyalista at mag-iwan ng isang malinaw na mensahe: hindi kami magpapaalipusta
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
Youth groups slam government's ‘inaction’ on sinking of Philippine boat
Youth groups urge the Duterte administration to conduct a course of action that would give justice to the Filipino fishermen who were victimized at the hands of the Chinese
Marina, Coast Guard wrap up probe into Recto Bank incident
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade says the results of the investigation were submitted to Malacañang on Thursday, June 20
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
[OPINION] The 22 fishermen must learn a proper fist bump
Well aware of how symbolic the gesture is of the President’s zeal in defending Filipinos like themselves, they really ought to do it better if they know what’s good for them
Bayanihan at sea: How fellow Filipinos helped rescue Gem-Ver and its crew
Two crewmen of a local fishing boat that came to Gem-Ver's aid recount the rescue of their lives
[OPINYON] Pagsakay sa bangka
Sa insidenteng nangyari sa bangka at sa mangingisda, malinaw din na magkabarkada ang ating pamahalaan at iyong pamahalaan ng nambangga. Iisa ang kanilang bangka.
Duterte agrees to joint probe of Recto Bank incident
(UPDATED) 'President Duterte welcomes and accepts the offer of the Chinese Government to conduct a joint investigation to determine what really transpired in Recto Bank and find a satisfactory closure to this episode,' says Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo
Duterte skirts PH sovereign rights in Recto Bank
President Rodrigo Duterte states there was no violation of sovereignty in the Recto Bank incident but fails to assert the country's sovereign rights over the area
Duterte to discuss China's maritime claim 'lengthily' at ASEAN Summit
The Philippine leader says he will pose this question during the regional summit in Thailand: 'Can you claim an ocean as your own?'
PH-China sea row not affecting fisheries sector – DTI chief
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also says there's no need to raise the Recto Bank incident during the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok where country leaders are expected to discuss a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea
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
Unlike PH, Vietnam defends its fishermen vs China
This comes as President Rodrigo Duterte dismisses as a 'maritime incident' the sinking of a Filipino boat by a Chinese ship in the West Philippine Sea
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
