Gem-Ver 1 owner, crewmen receive P6M in compensation

The owner and fishermen of the F/B Gem-Ver 1 fishing vessel that was wrecked by Chinese ship three years ago have finally received full compensation, an official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday.

“Full compensation has already been made in favor of the vessel owner and the fishermen,” Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said in a message to reporters.

In April, the DOJ said the settlement amounts to P6 million, at least half of the P12 million compensation sought by the crewmen and the boat owner.

Sugay said the victims received the payment on May 16.

In June 2019, the Chinese fishing vessel Yuemaobinyu 42212 rammed the Gem-Ver 1 (Gem-Vir) at Recto Bank. It then left the area and abandoned 22 Filipino fishermen drifting in the sea, clinging on the wreckage of their boat for hours, until as passing Vietnam ship rescued them.

In defense of its fishermen, China said the Chinese vessel had not intended to leave the Filipinos in distress, but was forced to sail away for fear of being besieged by several other Filipino boats near the area. —LBG, GMA News