A Filipino fishing boat sank last Sunday after being hit by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Recto (Reed) Bank in the West Philippine (South China) Sea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced on Wednesday. No lives were lost in the incident, but Lorenzana condemned those on the Chinese vessel for abandoning the 22 Filipinos aboard the F/B Gimver 1 “to the mercy of the elements.” A Vietnamese fishing vessel rescued the Filipinos and brought them to Palawan, in coordination with the military’s Western Command. The Navy’s BRP Ramon Alcaraz was also ordered to assist and monitor the area.

Reyes, D. & Tamayo, B. E. (2019, June 13). Pinoy vessel sinks after collision with Chinese boat. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A2.