Attacker of Chinese vessel in Spartly’s not RP military ship, says AFP

By Ronron
May 8, 2006

Even before an investigation on the alleged shooting of a Chinese vessel in the Spratly’s Island over a week ago could wrap up, the Philippine military already cleared its personnel from any involvement in the controversial incident.

“The evidence (indicates) that there were no military units in the area when that incident happened,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer Col. Tristan Kison told reporters Monday in Camp Aguinaldo.

“I don’t think so,” was his reply when asked categorically if a Philippine military vessel was involved in the attack.

Reports from Beijing said the Chinese fishing vessel was attacked last April 27 by suspected Filipino pirates, resulting in the death of four crew members and the wounding of three others.

Spratly’s, located off Palawan in the South China Sea, is being claimed in parts by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. It is believed to be rich in oil deposits aside from its marine resources.

On Wednesday last week, the AFP’s Western Command (Wescom), upon orders that same day by Malacanang, started investigating the alleged incident. That early, the Philippine military was already inclined to believe that the attack was the handiwork of pirates.

“The Chinese authorities specified the place where the alleged incident happened that is why the Wescom determined right away that we had no ships there at that time,” Kison said in Filipino.

Kison supported the initial possibility of pirates’ involvement by citing the kidnapping activity carried out by the Abu Sayyaf bandit group in April 2000 at Sipadan in Sabah, Malaysia.

“Anything is possible in the high seas. Remember the Sipadan incident where Abu Sayyaf pirates got into Sipadan resort, held hostage several tourists and brought them to Philippine territory?” Kison said.

Kison could not immediately say when the investigation is expected to be finished./DMS