Press Release
July 13, 2019

IF YOU REALLY ARE OUR FRIEND, AT LEAST GIVE US THE NAMES OF THE FISHERMEN - GORDON

Senator Richard J. Gordon said that if China is really a friend of the Philippines, it should at least give the names of the fishermen in the vessel that rammed a Filipino fishing boat near Reed Bank last June 9 and left the Filipino crew in peril of the sea.

Gordon noted that if China lives in a world order of civility and out of friendship, they will take responsibility by giving the names and letting the Philippines investigate them.

"Kung kaibigan natin ang China, ibigay niyo sa amin ang pangalan ng mga fishermen niyo, nung barko niyo, para dito sa amin I can assure you of a fair trial. Ang problema ko, we'll do our own investigation, pero sino ang fifile-an mo? John Doe? John Go? John Sy? Paano mo fi-file-an, walang jurisdiction ang court? Magfifile ka pero John Doe lahat, pwede (iyan). Paano sila huhulihin? Hihintayin mo pa na magbigay sila ng pangalan," the senator said.

"Hindi mo ba pwede sabihin, magpapadala kami ng danyos perwisyos, papalitan namin yung boat, at itong mga taong ito, I can assure you papakita ko ang pangalan, lilitisin namin iyan bago namin sintensyahan. Kung kaibigan ka, pagbigyan mo naman ako dahil ang mga tao ko gusto rin ng hustisya, sabihin mo na kung ano ang nangyari," he added.

Gordon cited as example the May 9, 2013 incident involving a Philippine Coast Guard patrol boat and a Taiwanese which led to the death of a Taiwanese fisherman by gunfire from the Philippine vessel.

After investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation showed that there are signs that the Philippine Coast Guard may have violated their so-called rules of engagement and eight crewmen were found to have fired at the Taiwanese vessel, it recommended the filing of homicide charges against the Philippine Coast Guard personnel involved in the shooting.

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