(Eagle News) — Malacanang has said it is already “taking pro-active measures” to address the problem of Filipino fishermen and Chinese Coast Guard as it noted that the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines and the Department of Foreign Affairs have also been talking about the issue.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Philippine government has officially relayed the problem to the Chinese government to address this issue, and provide solutions, including possible sanctions to members of the Chinese Coast Guard if their “inappropriate” action would be proven during the investigation.
“Mayroon pong problema pero hiningan na po namin ang gobyerno ng Tsina na gumawa ng mga hakbang para bigyan ng solusyon ang problemang ito,” Roque said in a previous press briefing.
“At kinoconfirm ko po na nakapagusap na po si Secretary Alan Cayetano at si Ambassador Zhao hinggil sa insidenteng ito,” the official said.
Roque said that he was also assured by the Chinese ambassador that what the certain members of the Chinese coast guard did, in boarding Philippine fishing boats and selecting the best fish from their catch, was “not a policy of China.”
“We are demanding that the Chinese take steps to stop the coast guard from doing these acts,” Roque told reporters.
“That is unacceptable. That is why we informed the Chinese we will not allow fish to be taken from our countrymen.”
Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua, said that this was an “isolated” case and added that the Chinese government would look into the matter.
-Beijing action pressed-
“Inassure rin po ako ng Ambassador na hindi po ito polisiya ng Tsina, na nagiimbestiga ang Beijing, at kung mapapatunayan itong mga sinasabi ng mga mangingisda ay may kaparusahang ipapataw dito sa mga Chinese Coast Guard na ito,” Roque said.
In a Palace press briefing, Roque admitted that there was indeed an incident where Chinese Coast Guard took fishes from Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal.
During that briefing, Roque was joined by three fishermen — Delfin Egana, Romel Cejuela, and Jurry Drio.
But he clarified that what happened in the seas was some sort of barter trading between the Filipino fishermen and the Chinese Coast Guard who gave the fishermen noodles, cigarettes and most importantly drinking water in exchange for the fish they got.
“Ang sumatotal po ay totoo po na nagkaroon ng insidente na kinuhanan ng isda ang ating mga mangingisda sa Scarborough, pero sangayon po sa kanila mayroong ibinibigay na kapalit,” Roque said.
“Kada kinukuhanan sila ng isda, binibigyan sila ng noodles, sigarilyo, at pinakaimportante tubig dahil palagi silang nagkukulang sa tubig,” he explained.
The Presidential spokesperson said that in one of the bilateral talks between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both leaders have arrived at a decision that Filipino fishermen are already allowed to fish in Scarborough Shoal.
In contrast, he said, Filipinos were barred from fishing in the Scarborough Shoal by China before.
“Ang pangingisda po sa Boro (Scarborough) ay hindi lang naging ruling ng Aribitral Tribunal, ito po ay naging usapin sa panig mismo ni President Xi (Jinping) at President Duterte na pupwede nang mangisdang muli ang ating mga mangingisda doon sa tinatawag na Boro,” Roque said.
Roque also noted that this issue is but a dent and will not, in any way, affect the bilateral relations between the two countries developed during Duterte administration.
“Naniniwala po kami na hindi ito official policy dahil mayroon nga pong kasunduan sa panig ni President Xi at President Duterte,” Roque said.
“Napakaliit na bagay po ito para maapektuhan ang kabuuan ng bilateral relations natin sa Tsina,” Roque added.
The three fishermen, meanwhile, thanked the Duterte administration for a quick response regarding this dilemma.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay President Duterte na nakakapasok na kami diyan sa loob, nakakapangisda na kami ulit diyan. Hindi na kami hinaharangan [ng Chinese Coast Guard],” said fisherman Romel Cejuela. (with a Malacañang release)