MANILA, Philippines—The chair of left-wing party-list group Bayan Muna on Saturday (June 15) expressed belief that China’s statement dismissing the ramming of a Filipino boat by a Chinese vessel in Philippine territorial waters was simply a preview of how Chinese authorities planned to “whitewash” the case. Lawyer Neri Colmenares, Bayan Muna chair, said China’s explanation that the Chinese fishing vessel accidentally hit the Filipino boat in panic because it was under siege by other Filipino boats was just an introductory statement leading to a whitewash. ADVERTISEMENTThe Filipino boat was sent sinking and the Chinese vessel simply abandoned the Filipino fishermen fighting for their lives at sea, according to reports quoting the Philippine Navy and the fishermen themselves. The Chinese Embassy in Manila denied that the Chinese fishing vessel intentionally hit and abandoned the Filipino fishing boat at the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea. It is time that we resort to international mechanisms to get justice,” Colmenares added.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 15, 2019 09:33 UTC