Ang Kalatas November 2015 Issue | Page 3

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