Damages for GemVer ramming pegged at P12 million

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese government should pay P12 million in compensation to the 22 Filipino fishermen whose boat was rammed and sunk by a Chinese fishing vessel near Recto Bank on June 9 last year, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday.

In an interview over CNN Philippines, Guevarra said Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors in Occidental Mindoro based the amount largely on assessment made by the boat owner and the fishermen themselves.

The amount would cover cost of repair of M/V Gem-Ver, lost income, as well as civil and moral damages.

“From their report, the total estimated civil damages amount to something like P12 million plus for the repair of the fishing boat, for lost income and wages for period of six months. The owner of the vessel also asked for moral damages,” Guevarra said.

He added they have already informed the Department of Foreign Affairs about the report. It was the DFA which sought DOJ assistance in assessing the amount of compensation for the Filipinos.  The boat was owned and operated by Arlinda dela Torre of San Roque, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

“We have submitted this estimate to the DFA. We’re expecting they will forward this to the Chinese government. We’re just waiting for the reaction of the Chinese government,” the justice chief added.

After ramming the Filipino fishing boat on the night of June 9, the Chinese vessel hurriedly left without helping the distressed Filipinos. A passing Vietnamese vessel rescued the Filipinos.

The Chinese fishing vessel was identified as Yuemaobinyu 42212, owned by Liang Jin from Guangdong province.

Using donations, Gem-Ver’s owner was able to repair the boat and send it out to sea again last November. However, it was again damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon Ursula in December last year.