THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA
www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 6 Number 2 | NOVEMBER 2015
NEWS
03
Pinoy sailors helped by Chinese vessel
TWENTY-ONE
Filipino
seafarers were rescued by a
Chinese-owned vessel along
the Vitiaz Strait in Northern New
Guinea last month after the
Philippine vessel – MV Foxhound
– sank due to bad weather.
The Chinese-owned UK-registered vessel
MV COSCO came to the rescue of the Pinoys
just in time to retrieve all them as they struggled
in their lifeboat on the high seas on October 17.
The captain of the MV Foxhound Captain
Jonathan Montel had sent a distress signal as
their vessel began to sink.
The Pinoy seafarers were brought to Port
Botany in Sydney five days later where they
were met onboard by Consul Marford Angeles
and Assistance-to-Nationals officer Erlinda Albay of the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney.
In coordination with HWL Ebsworths, the
insurance agent in Sydney of MV Foxhound, the
Consulate made arrangements for a team of Filipino-Australian doctors and a psychologist to
conduct medical and psychological examination
of the 21 Filipino seafarers.
Consul Angeles conveyed to Captain Shen
Xiao Xing, Master of MV COSCO Shanghai the
Consulate General’s appreciation and gratitude
for his action which resulted int the safety and
well-being of the Filipino seafarers.
Captain Shen graciously responded by saying that he just did his duty to save lives at sea.
According to Captain Montel, all his crew
members’ needs were attended to by Captain
Shen and his crew, who treated them with kindness. Captain Montel related that Captain Shen
even asked them if the food given to them onboard his ship was to their liking as he wanted to
ensure that they were satisfied and comfortable.
The team of Filipino-Australian doctors
and psychologist that assessed the Filipino seamen onboard MV COSCO Shanghai comprised
Dr. Corazon Francisco, Dr. Teofista de Vera,
Dr. Roger Fabian, and Ms. Fe Limjap. The team
also extended financial assistance to the Filpino seafarers.
HWL Ebsworth made arrangements for the
return flight of the seafarers to the Philippines
on October 24.
[Philippine Consulate General Sydney:
philippineconsulate.com.au]
Rescued at sea
(Clockwise from top left) Consul Marford Angeles (center) with Captain Shen Xiao Xing (left) of MV COSCO Shanghai which
rescued 21 Filipino seafarers led by Captain Jonathan Montel (right) of Philippine vessel MV Foxhound that sank along Vitiaz
Strait in Papua New Guinea on October 17; Consul Angeles confers with Filipino-Australian doctor, Dr. Corazon Francisco,
which she is examining Capt. Montel during the medical check-up conducted for all the seamen on October 22; (From left,
seated) Ms. Albay, Ms. Fe Limjap, Dr. Cora Francisco, and Dr. Teofista de Vera. Consul Angeles (standing, rightmost) with the
crew of MV Foxhound; Consul Angeles and Ms. Albay speak to the Filipino seafarers about their ordeal at sea.
IN THE NEWS...
Territorial dispute vs China: Philippines wins round 1
YES,
the Philippines can sue
China over sovereignty issues in
the South China Sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration hearing
the case of the Philippines-China dispute on country rights over the South China Sea has given its first
ruling. And so far, it’s favourable to the Philippines
side.
That means China has no right to assert its own
decisions over disputed maritime territories.
According to The Diplomat (thediplomat.com)
the UN-backed court ruled that the case was ‘proper-
ly constituted under the UN Convention of the Law
of the Sea and that China’s “non-appearance” (refusal to participate) did not preclude the Court’s jurisdiction.
On October 29, the Permanent Court of Arbitration awarded its first decision in the Republic of Philippines v. The People’s Republic of China.
With the jurisdictional issue resolved, the case
can move forward to evaluating the merits of the
Philippines’ legal assertions in the South China Sea.
In a press release, the Court noted that the decision was “unanimous” and “concerns only whether the Tribunal has jurisdiction to consider the Philippines’ claims and whether such claims are admis-
sible.”
The Philippines is looking for the Court to decide on certain issues mainly the status of Beijing’s
nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea. Manila
argues that the nine-dash line is an excessive maritime claim and not in line with the entitlements for
coastal states under UNCLOS.
The Philippines is also arguing that China’s occupation of various features in the Spratly Islands
is illegal and based on illegitimate claims to title or
sovereignty over completely submerged areas. The
Philippines also argues that China is illegally exploiting natural resources wit