Ni Ven Marck Botin
KINONDENA ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ang China Coast Guard (CCG) kaugnay sa iligal na paglalagay ng mga floating barriers sa ilang bahagi ng timog-silangan ng Bajo de Masinloc Shoal na humaharang sa mga Pilipinong mangingisda na pumasok sa nabanggit na katubigan.
“The floating barrier with an estimated length of 300 meters was discovered by the PCG and BFAR personnel onboard BRP Datu Bankaw when they conducted routine maritime patrol on September 20, 2023 at the vicinity of BDM,” pahayag ng ahensya.
Anila, tatlong (3) Inflatable Boats ng CCG at mga bangka ng Chinese Maritime Militia ang nakitang naglalagay ng mga floating barrier malapit sa Scaborough Shoal sa West Philippine Sea.
“It was reported by the Filipino fishermen that the CCG vessels usually install floating barriers whenever they monitor a large number of Filipino fishermen in the area,” pahayag ng PCG.
Kaugnay rito, tinangka ring itaboy ng China Coast Guard ang sasakyang pandagat ng BFAR at ilang mga Filipino Fishing Boats sa pamamagitan ng radio challenge.
“The CCG crew alleged that the presence of the BFAR vessel and Filipino fishermen violated international law and the domestic laws of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
The BFAR vessel responded to each and every radio calls and emphasized that they were carrying out a routine patrol within the territorial sea of BDM.
Notably, upon realizing the presence of media personnel onboard the BFAR vessel, the CCG vessels maintained a safe distance and moved away,” dagdag ng PCG.