Zubiri urges PCG to cut, remove Scarborough Shoal floating barrier

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Sunday asked the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to cut and remove a floating barrier which the PCG said was placed by the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.

This came after the PCG reported its discovery of the 300-meter floating barrier along the Scarborough Shoal on Friday, September 22, which prevented Filipino fishermen from entering the area.

Zubiri said he was informed of the presence of the floating barrier on Saturday.

“I would like to request our Philippine Coast Guard to immediately cut and remove all these illegal structures located at our West Philippine Sea not just to assert our sovereign rights to the area but to protect our fishermen from any possible accidents that may arise from these illegal structures,” the Senate President said in a statement.

According to the PCG, three CCG rigid hull inflatable boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the floating barrier upon arrival of personnel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the vicinity of the shoal.

“It was reported by the Filipino fishermen that the CCG vessels usually installed floating barriers whenever they monitor a large number of Filipino fishermen in the area,” the PCG said.

Four CCG vessels also supposedly initiated a series of 15 radio challenges in an attempt to drive away the BFAR vessel and Filipino fishers at the Bajo de Masinloc.

Zubiri stressed that China had no right to put any structures within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

“First of all, they have no right to put any structures within our Exclusive Economic Zone and secondly, these structures pose a danger to passing fishing boats that can get entangled on the lines and cause considerable damage to the propellers and engines of our fisherfolk,” he said.

Zubiri thanked the PCG for its “untiring and unwavering commitment to watch and protect the areas” within the Philippines’ EEZ, including the Bajo de Masinloc which is within the country's 12 nautical mile territory.

“We in the Senate stand by our brave men and women who risk their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy today” he added. — DVM, GMA Integrated News