Also blames Duterte admin’s “less assertive” stance in dealing with W. PHL Sea issue
(Eagle News)–Vice President Leni Robredo has expressed disappointment over what she said was the Chinese government’s “refusal to acknowledge the culpability of those responsible for sinking the Philippine fishing vessel and abandoning its crew,” but at the same time blamed the Chinese vessel’s actions on the “less assertive policy” adopted by the Duterte administration on the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
“If the Chinese government has already presented their own version of the events and will not even accept that a wrong was committed, how can we expect it to mete justice on those responsible?” she said.
As for the Philippine government, Robredo noted its “failure to consistently contest Chinese encroachment in our waters,” which she said “was inevitably going to result in less and less respect of our laws and sovereignty from China—and to the direct harm of our people.”
She said this was “the time where we expect our leaders to be true to their oath and speak, act, and do what is needed to defend the dignity of our nation, and every Filipino.”
As such, she said those involved should be held accountable in accordance with existing international and Philippine laws.
“Justice for the 22 Filipino fishermen requires that our courts assume jurisdiction,” she said, urging the Department of Foreign Affairs to take measures for this.
In a statement, the Chinese embassy admitted a Chinese vessel had hit a Filipino fishing boat in the West Philippine Sea on June 9, but said the vessel had been “besieged” by seven or eight Filipino boats while at “berth.”
The embassy added no hit-and-run took place as the Chinese vessel crew confirmed Filipino boats had come to the rescue of the 22 Filipino fishermen on board their boat that sank upon collision.
