A photograph of a Philippine flag hoisted over a Chinese fishing vessel that’s now stuck on the Tubbataha Reef has raised suspicions that the ship’s grounding may not be accidental.
A national security expert raised this possibility, saying that the flag's presence on the ship is a clear manifestation of the Chinese fishermen’s “intention to deceive” to “swiftly enter the Philippine territory."
“The whole thing is planned,” the expert told InterAksyon.com. “The message is very clear. The grounding is intentional.”
The Philippine Coast Guard-Palawan District said that placing the flag on a seized and boarded foreign vessel is not part of its standard operating procedures.
The expert also stressed that the “plan” was to supposedly test the possible double standards of local authorities regarding the mishap.
Progressive groups have complained that the government is guilty of double standards after it arrested the 12 Chinese fishermen onboard the vessel for poaching and for intruding into the country's territory. However, it was unable to do the same to US Navy personnel whose ship—the USS Guardian—was also stuck on Tubbataha months earlier.
No special treatment for the US, Chinese vessels
However, the Tubbataha Mangement Office insisted that no special treatment has been given.
The two grounding incidents are different from each other, Park Superintendent Angelique Songco told InterAksyon.com.
“Mas straightforward to (Chinese vessel incident) kasi individuals rather than countries yung involved,” she said. (The incident with the Chinese vessel is more straightforward because it involved individuals.)
On the other hand, the US “helped and talked to us” when the USS Guardian was stuck on the reef, Songco said.
With the Chinese vessel, we still don’t know, she added.
Chinese fishermen don't seem to know one another, interpreter says
As of this posting, what has been determined is that the twelve Chinese nationals are from Fujian, China, interpreter Francis Chua said in a sworn statement, a copy of which was obtained by InterAksyon.com.
Upon boarding BRP Romblon of the Philippine Coast Guard, the Chinese fishermen said that they were on their way home to China from fishing expeditions in Indonesia and Malaysia but they got “stranded” in the Philippines.
Based on his statement, Chua also said that the fishermen told him that they don’t know the name of the fishing company that employs them or even the name of the ship itself.
None of the Chinese fishermen also had passports, Chua said.
Based on his impressions, Chua said that the fishermen don’t seem to know each other.
Chinese nationals don't look like fishermen at all, police official says
Meanwhile, Warden Ramon Espina of the Palawan Provincial Jail said on a local radio station Friday morning that the apprehended Chinese nationals don’t look like fishermen at all.
“Mukhang makikinis itong mga Chinese na ito. Malulusog at maayos. Hindi yung typical naming nakakasalamuha dito,” he said. (They appear to be healthy, strong and don't have hardened complexions.)
The 12 Chinese fishermen are under the custody of the Provincial Jail after the local court issued a commitment order on Thursday.
Boat contains 'powdered substances' but no fishing equipment
Besides fishing nets and dried fish earlier reported to have been recovered on the Chinese vessel, the Tubbataha Management Office said contraband such as powdered substances have also been found onboard.
“Based on the inventory of the Chinese vessel submitted to us by the [Philippine Coast Guard], there are substances found in the ship. We still don’t know yet if they are really explosives,” said Songco.
“Yun ang nakapagtataka eh. Bakit may ganon tapos walang facility yung barko nila to store their catch?” she added. (That's what's mysterious. How come the boat doesn't have an area where to store their catch?)
Substances found on the Chinese vessel are now being identified by the PNP Crime Laboratory, Police Inspector Manel Lamban-Marzo, spokesperson of the Palawan Provincial Police Office told InterAksyon.com.
The Tubbataha Management Office said they will file additional charges against the Chinese nationals depending on the laboratory test results.
Meanwhile, the national security expert is also open to other possible theories and scenarios.
“The possibilities are endless. Pwedeng tinitingnan nila kung baket nabahura doon yung USS Guardian and why are the government taking so long in investigating the real cause of the grounding. Marami talaga.” he said. (The Chinese may be trying to find out why the USS Guardian was grounded and why the government is taking so long in investigating the real cause of the grounding.)
“But one thing is for sure, the government should be extra cautious in handling this, or the Philippines will be put in a bad light,” he added.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/59306/why-is-a-philippine-flag-hoisted-on-a-chinese-vessel-thats-now-stuck-on-tubbataha
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