Malacañang accepts apology

MANILA - (2ND UPDATE) The shipowner of the Chinese fishing boat involved in the Reed Bank allision incident has apologized, but maintained the incident was "accidental."

In a memorandum addressed to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, the unnamed Chinese company, through an association, apologized for the June 9 incident where a Chinese vessel rammed an anchored Filipino fishing boat and left its fishers at sea.

"The shipowner of the Chinese fishing boat involved, through our association, would like to express his sincere apology to the Filipino fishermen," the memorandum read.

• Chinese ship sinks PH vessel, abandons 22 Pinoy fishermen

The letter, signed by Chen Shiquin, president of the Guangdong Fishery Mutual Insurance Association, was sent by the Fisheries Bureau of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA).

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Malacañang accepted the apology Wednesday, saying it welcomes the Chinese shipowner's "humility."

"We accept the recent apology extended by the owner of the Chinese vessel to our fishermen affected by the incident. We likewise welcome the owner's humility to take responsibility and acknowledgment that compensation must be provided to cover the actual loss," Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

The apology came ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's 5th visit to China, where he plans to raise Manila's arbitral victory in 2016 that invalidated Beijing's sweeping claims in the disputed South China Sea.

'ACCIDENTAL'

The Chinese fishing boat involved in the allision was found to be registered in Guangdong.

According to the letter, the association believes the incident was "accidental and was "an unintentional mistake of the Chinese fishermen."

"The Chinese fishing boat should however take the major responsibility in the accident," it added.

The association urged Manila to file a "specific appeal for civil compensation based on the actual loss."

"We believe that, although this accident was an unintentional mistake of the Chinese fishermen, the Chinese fishing boat should however take the major responsibility in the accident," it said.

"Our association will urge the ship owner of the fishing boat involved to actively coordinate with the Philippine side to expedite the latter’s claim for compensation according to the procedures for insurance claim."

The Chinese ship was registered in Guangdong, with the owner a member of the Chinese association.

Beijing's embassy in Manila earlier denied that the Chinese crew abandoned the Filipino fishermen, who were rescued by a Vietnamese ship.

• 'No hit-and-run': Beijing denies boat abandoned Pinoy fishermen near Reed Bank

It said the captain of the Chinese ship tried to save them but was "afraid of being besieged by other Filipino fishing boats."