By Brian Jules Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday that the Philippine government is ready to file charges against fishermen responsible for the alleged reports of cyanide fishing at the Scarborough Shoal.
“If we feel that there is enough ground to do so, we will,” President Marcos said in an interview with reporters after the 16th Ani ng Dangal awards at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.
This is following the report of some Filipino fisherfolk to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen were using cyanide to “intentionally destroy Bajo de Masinloc” and prevent them from fishing in the area.
Marcos expressed alarm over the incident, which can harm the coral and marine environment.
“I do know that there [have been] cases of cyanide fishing before, even here in the Philippines. But I think the reason that it has been more alarming is that it has become more prevalent kaya ‘yun ang inaalala natin,” the President added.
Cyanide is highly toxic to humans and aquatic life even at low concentrations.
Meanwhile, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Monday that they are still validating the report as they have to be careful.
Malaya advised BFAR to complete their documentation of the incident, compile pieces of evidence as well as affidavits, then submit a post-mission report to the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea.
Once validated, he said the report can be forwarded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General as both offices are currently gathering evidence and building a strong case for environmental degradation.
“The challenge is to prove that the responsibility for coral degradation and the impact to the environment is coming from these specific people. Kailangan nating i-connect. We have to have solid evidence to prove to the court,” Malaya continued.
The DOJ, for its part, expressed its full support to the President’s commitment to protecting the West Philippine Sea and vowed to address the said incident.
“Under the leadership of President Marcos Jr., the Philippines will not tolerate any actions that harm our environment or deprive Filipino people of their right to its use and beauty,” DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a statement on Wednesday. – avds