Gem-Ver 1 crew to receive P6 million in compensation, says DOJ

Owners and fishermen of the F/B Gem-Ver 1 will finally receive some long-overdue compensation, three years after a Chinese vessel rammed and sank the Filipino fishing boat near Recto Bank (Reed Bank) in June 2019.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed this Thursday, adding that the settlement amounts to P6 million. 

“I understand that the owner of FB Gem-Ver will receive the amount on behalf of the fishermen and himself,” he told reporters.

In June 2019, Chinese fishing vessel Yuemaobinyu 42212 rammed the Gem-Ver (Gem-Vir), which was stationed at Recto Bank. The trawler then sailed away, abandoning 22 Filipino fishermen in the open sea for at least four hours before a passing Vietnam vessel rescued them.

The owner of the Chinese ship extended his apology to the affected fisherfolks through the Philippine Embassy in China.

China said the Chinese vessel had not intended to leave the Filipinos but was forced to sail away for fear of being besieged by several other Filipino boats near the area—a claim belied by the fishermen.

President Rodrigo Duterte also apologized to the Filipino fishermen but maintained his view that it was nothing but a “maritime incident.”

The justice department previously confirmed the crewmen and the boat owner were asking for P12 million compensation. — BM, GMA News