China Coast Guard boat chases, cuts path of Filipino fishers’ banca

A Filipino fisherman who tried to enter Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal to fish was chased and had its path cut by a China Coast Guard (CCG) boat in the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

According to Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras," video of the incident showed the CCG vessel aggressively trying to steer away the fisher as it sped and moved closely towards the small Filipino boat.

The fisherman took advantage of the stand-off between BFAR’s BRP Datu Bankaw and China Coast Guard ship 3105 near the entrance of Scarborough Shoal and attempted to enter the shoal.

He was promptly chased away by the Chinese.

"Hindi ako natatakot,” said Arnel Satam when asked about the incident. “Pinagtatawan-tawanan ko lang sila. Inaasar ko lang sila eh”.

(I am not scared. I just want to taunt them.)

Located 229.6 kilometers (124 nautical miles) away from Zambales, Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It is considered as one of the traditional fishing grounds for Filipinos.

However, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) over the weekend said the CCG installed a floating barrier in the southeast portion of the shoal, preventing Filipino fishermen from entering the area to conduct their fishing activities.

 The PCG said the floating barrier, which has an estimated length of 300 meters, was discovered by personnel of PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Friday, September 22, while onboard Datu Bankaw to conduct a maritime patrol mission in Bajo de Masinloc.

“It is a navigational hazard. Buoys are used as an aid to navigation to support the mariners to identify a dangerous area. Ito they are using floating barrier para pagbawalan mga Pilipinong fishermen na makapasok sa shoal,” said PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela.

(It is a navigational hazard. Buoys are used as an aid to navigation to support the mariners to identify a dangerous area. They are using the floaters to keep the Filipino fisherfolks away.)

Last week, the BFAR also accused the CCG of attempting to block the entry of the BRP Datu Bankaw in Bajo de Masinloc, prompting an exchange of challenges between the two coastguards.

Amid the tension, the mothership of the fisherfolks arrived and went in between the BFAR and CCG, allowing the BRP Datu Bankaw to enter and anchor 300 meters away from the shoal to disburse the fuel subsidy.

At least 60,000 liters of fuel were distributed to the fisherfolks.

“Katulad ng matumal ngayon dito, puwede naming marating yung halimbawa may ma-monitor kami na maganda ang kain kahit pa sabihing abutin ng 100 miles, 200 miles mapupuntahan pa namin kasi may ayuda nang dumating kaya malaking tulong sa amin talaga ito,” a fisher said.

(We don’t sell much these days but if we monitor an area where there are a lot of fishes, we can go there even if it was 100 miles or 200 miles away.)

In July 2016, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, based on a case filed by Manila, junked China's nine-dash line claim covering the entire SCS. Beijing has refused to acknowledge the ruling.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last November said he told Chinese officials to uphold international law, and follow the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea regarding areas of the South China Sea.

Marcos in January said China will not stop Filipino fishermen from fishing despite tensions in the West Philippine Sea, citing an agreement between Manila and Beijing.

In March, however, China maintained that it has sovereign rights over Scarborough Shoal, following reports of the Philippine Coast Guard of a  "close distance maneuvering" incident involving a Chinese vessel in the area. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News