Confirmed reports reveal that Filipino fishermen have recently encountered harassment from the China Coast Guard near Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales, situated at the southeast entrance of the Scarborough Shoal, as acknowledged by Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.
Tarriela confirmed that the PCG has traced the origin of circulating online videos depicting the incident.
The footage shows Chinese Coast Guard personnel confronting Filipino fishermen engaged in collecting sea shells in the area.
Tarriela stated, “The PCG have successfully identified the origin of the videos and have taken steps to gather sworn statements from the individuals involved.”
A certain Jack Tabat, a resident of Zambales, acknowledged that the video in question was captured aboard their boat, FB Legendary Jo, ABS-CBN reported.
In his statement to the PCG, Tabat recounted the incident, noting that on January 12, 2024, Filipino fishermen, while collecting seashells near the South entrance of Bajo de Masinloc, experienced harassment from the China Coast Guard.
“The fishermen were instructed to return the shells they had gathered to the sea and were subsequently driven away,” Tarriela said.
Tabat’s testimony highlighted the encounter with five Chinese Coast Guard personnel on board a rubber boat.
Four of them disembarked and pursued the Filipino fishermen.
Tarriela conveyed, “He also documented one Chinese Coast Guard personnel grabbing the fishing boat and preventing it from departing unless the fishermen threw back their gathered sea shells into the sea.”
The PCG is actively awaiting the arrival of the fishing vessel that was subjected to the China Coast Guard’s harassment.
Tarriela stated, “We intend to gather testimonies from the fishermen as well.”
This incident adds to the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where Beijing claims nearly the entire region, despite an international tribunal ruling against its assertions. The Chinese government deploys boats for patrolling and has militarized artificial islands to reinforce its claims.
Notably, this recent confrontation follows diplomatic discussions between the Philippines and China during the 8th Philippines-China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea.
Commodore Jay Tarriela expressed “high hopes with moderate expectations” after both countries pledged to improve their “maritime communication mechanism.”
This agreement aims to enhance communication not only between diplomats but also between the respective coast guards of both nations, according to Rappler.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) highlighted the importance of continuous dialogue to maintain peace and stability at sea in a statement released on January 18.
The Daily Netizen 