BANGKOK – Philippine Trade Sec. Ramon Lopez pointed out that there is no need to discuss the Recto Bank incident in the ASEAN Summit.
Earlier, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that President Rodrigo Duterte might raise the ramming of Chinese vessel to the fishing boat of Filipino fishermen during the said regional leaders’ meeting.
According to Lopez, the incident involved only two private fishing boats and governments should not be linked.
Lopez insisted that it is best to investigate first the incident to determine the real story as we remain calm over the issue.
“Off hand, kung ako ang tatanungin mo, baka hindi, kasi hindi involved yung government sa aksidente eh. Dalawang boats ng private fishermen. Dalawang boats ng private fishermen. Saka unang-una, hindi natin alam kung ano ang storya dun. Ang importante maimbestigahan muna kung intentional, hindi intentional, at saka dalawang private groups naman sila. Hindi naman government. Kaya siguro mahinahon lang tayo dapat dito. Huwag natin iinvolve ang mga government at tingnan talaga kung ano yung nangyari. More of that eh, mag investigate na lang,” Lopez said.
