'The incident happened in Philippine waters, to Filipino citizens, whose laws immediately apply, and where jurisdiction, unless surrendered, vests exclusively in Philippine courts or appropriate administrative agencies,' says former chief justice Maria ...
REJECT TRI-PARTY PROBE. Former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno says a tri-party probe into the sinking of a Philippine ship in Recto Bank is an 'overt surrender of our sovereignty.' File photo by Angie de Silva/Rappler
“The incident happened in Philippine waters, to Filipino citizens, whose laws immediately apply, and where jurisdiction, unless surrendered, vests exclusively in Philippine courts or appropriate administrative agencies,” said Sereno.the Duterte government to make a summary finding and fine the Chinese vessel up to $1,000,000 for just being in Recto Bank where the Philippines enjoys exclusive sovereign rights.
The Chinese vessel abandoned the Filipino crewmen in their sinking boat, and were rescued by a Vietnamese vessel after two members paddled to the latter to seek help. Sereno said that with the Duterte government and China both saying it was a mere maritime accident, the addition of a third party was useless.
According to Sereno, the addition of a third party was only for show and would reduce the Philippines to nothing but “a mere participant” in an investigation that should have been exclusively Filipino.
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