By Brian Jules Campued
Some Filipino fishermen gathering seashells in Bajo de Masinloc or the Scarborough Shoal were driven away by the China Coast Guard earlier this month, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Comm. Jay Tarriela confirmed Monday.
Comm. Tarriela confirmed in an interview on Rise and Shine Pilipinas that according to the sworn statement by fisherman Jack Tabat who took a video, the incident happened last Jan. 12 when five officers aboard a Chinese Coast Guard rubber boat headed toward the location of the fishers.
Video showed four members of the CCG swam toward the fishermen and ordered them to leave the vicinity and throw the seashells they’ve collected back to the sea.
Between 15 to 20 fishermen were estimated to be around the area when the said harassment occurred and additional testimonies are currently being collected from other witnesses who arrived home on Sunday night, Tarriela added.
The PCG spokesperson said that at one point, the CCG held on to the Filipino fishermen’s boat and prevented it from departing unless the shells were surrendered back to the waters.
However, no PCG or Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels were present in the area during the harassment as it underwent rotational deployment across the Philippine seaboards.
“With a very limited number of assets that we have, it has rotational deployment. We cannot ascertain that 24/7 nandiyan ang coast guard, nandiyan ang BFAR,” Tarriela said.
The PCG assured the public that it will continue to guarantee the rights and safety of the Filipino fisherfolk and maintain patrols over the West Philippine Sea.
“Ang intensiyon po ng ating ating Pangulo sa mga nakaraang buwan ay ang paigtingin ang presensiya ng PCG vessels at ng BFAR vessel dito sa Bajo de Masinloc para maprotektahan at ma-ensure ang kaligtasan ng ating mga mangingisdang Pilipino,” Tarriela said.
He also stated that the BFAR would continue to give fuel subsidies and grocery items to the fishermen in the area in the following months.
The National Security Council (NSC) likewise hoped the Chinese government will honor the agreement they’ve reached with the Philippines during their 8th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism to improve maritime communication in the contested sea.
“Sana tapatan nila ng aksiyon sa ground ‘yung ating napag-usapan between the Philippine government and the Chinese government…at sana moving forward ay ma-implement ‘yung pag-uusap kasi it is not in the interest of the Philippines nor with China na tumaas ‘yung tensiyon ngayong 2024,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said during an interview in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Monday. – avds
