Zambales fishers continue to suffer amid China’s 'no trespass' rule in SCS

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Fishermen in Masinloc, Zambales continue to bear the brunt of the implementation of China’s policy that would allow the detainment of "foreign trespassers" in the South China Sea, a fishers group said Sunday.

Joeffrey Elad, president of the Masinloc-based Tropical Fish Gatherer Association, said that while Filipino fishermen in the area are still able to undertake their livelihood, they could only do so in nearby waters and could not even go to Bajo de Masinloc, also known as the Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal.

He said that this was due to their fear of getting detained by the Chinese.

“After Bajo de Masinloc, 30 miles (48 kilometers) pa ang layo [kung saan nakakapangisda],” Elad said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(We could only fish about 30 miles from Bajo de Masinloc.)

“Hangga't kaya pa naming makapalayo sa kanila (Chinese vessels) kapag natatanaw, lumalayo na kami agad dahil ayaw naman namin na kami mismo ang masampolan. Mamaya dalhin kami sa China…O kung saan. Mamaya bigla na lang kami itapon diyan sa laot. Wala kaming kalaban-laban kasi mga bangka lang naman kaming maliliit eh,” he continued.

(As long as we can, we avoid Chinese vessels, we don’t want to get detained. They may bring us to China or anywhere. They may also just throw us in the open sea. We’re nothing compared to them because we’re just only using small boats.)

In May, China issued a regulation empowering its coast guard to detain foreigners trespassing in the South China Sea for up to 60 days without trial. The policy has reportedly taken effect starting June 15.

The Philippine Navy had said the Philippine government will not allow China to arrest Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as such is "unacceptable.”

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos said Filipino authorities “will take whatever measures to always protect our citizens.”

Elad earlier appealed to the Philippine Navy to give Zambales fishers the security they needed so they could fish in Bajo de Masinloc.

As of Sunday, he said that this request has not yet been answered by the Philippine Navy, forcing fishermen to endure fishing in less dangerous areas.

“‘Yan ang lagi kong tinatanong kung kailan talaga magiging maayos ang pangingisda namin sa Bajo de Masinloc. Kahit sila (Navy), hindi naman talaga totoo na diyan sila naka-ano. Wala pa talagang lumalapit na mga tropa ng Pilipinas do’n,” Elad said.

(I always ask the Navy when we could go back to regular fishing in Bajo de Masinloc. It's not really true that they are there. No forces from the Philippines are present in the area.)

“Kung kami naman, tiyaga-tiyaga nalang muna dito sa tabi bago kami makipagsapalaran doon sa laot kapag nandun na talaga ang mga tropa,” he added.

(On our part, we have to be patient before we venture out in Bajo de Masinloc and make sure that Filipino troops are really there.)

On June 18, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said that the number of Filipino fishing boats in the Bajo de Masinloc increased amid the implementation of China’s policy.

Tarriela said that since June 14, the PCG has deployed two patrol vessels---BRP Sindangan and BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403)--- to patrol the shoal which is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales.—RF, GMA Integrated News

This article Zambales fishers continue to suffer amid China’s 'no trespass' rule in SCS was originally published in GMA News Online.