Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said his department had submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) a report on the estimated P12 million being sought by the owner and crew members of the FB Gem-Ver, as compensation for the boat’s sinking last year by a Chinese trawler in the West Philippine Sea. In a television interview on Thursday, Guevarra said state prosecutors took statements from Gem-Ver’s owner and 22 crew members. “We have submitted this estimate to the Department of Foreign Affairs as requested by them quite recently,” Guevarra said. “We’re expecting they (the DFA) will forward this to the Chinese government. We’re just waiting for the reaction of the Chinese government.”

Pazzibugan, D. Z. (2020, September 18). DOJ: Gem-Ver fishermen seeking P12M compensation. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A4.