Not true Pinoy fishers have ‘abandoned’ Scarborough

A CONFIDENTIAL report by a highly-placed military official to higher headquarters has described as full of “erroneous information without substantiated evidence” an article by the Philippine Daily Inquirer last April 24, 2021, that Filipino fishermen had “abandoned” the fishing grounds in the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal/Bajo de Masinloc) for fear of being driven away by the Chinese Coast Guard and fishing vessels.

The report further stressed that their “maritime informants” in Bajo de Masinloc (BDM) can “attest and nullify the (false) information circulated in the media (PDI).”

Accordingly, the report said “there has been consistent presence of Filipino fishing boats in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc for the first four months of CY 2021.”

The report further observed that there was “sporadic fluctuation” in the number of Filipino fishing boats (FFBs) venturing out “which can be attributed to bad weather and sea condition… and traditional fishing season.”

Since January and up to April, the report further said that on the “average,” 10 Filipino fishing vessels (FFBs) are being monitored by the Philippine government “anchored and conducting fishing operations in the vicinity 100 yards to 250 yards south to southeast off Bajo de Masinloc.” 

“(T)he presence of Filipino fishing boats (coming mainly from Pangasinan and Zambales) monitored in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc has been consistent from January to April 2021,” the report added.

The report, which the source said had already been forwarded to Malacañang and to the office of national security adviser, Hermogenes Esperon, also opined that the PDI report is “susceptible to misperception by the public that could discredit the government.”

It also pointed out that the PDI had relied on the statement of one fisherman who, the report said, is a member of the ‘PAMALAKAYA.’ 

The group is one of the many front organizations created by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The military official said that as part of his duty is to conduct “visitations” in territories being disputed by China, the Philippines and Vietnam as well as other islands in Northern Luzon, he has been “touring” the areas being claimed by the Philippines since January.

And not in a single instance, he said, was he driven away, harassed or warned by the Chinese.

In most instances, he said both FFBs and Chinese vessels can be seen anchored near each other while fishing.

Contradictory report

Contrary to the April 24, 2021 report of the PDI that sought to create another friction between China and the Philippines, the PDI, a day earlier, had also published a report saying that about 100 FFBs that had left Pangasinan a week earlier had taken shelter also at BDM due to bad weather but were not driven away by the Chinese.

The Chinese were already anchored some 15 kilometers away from where they decided to stay until the weather improves.

The PDI April 23, 2021, report also cited Eric Naboa, president of the Cato Infanta Fishermen’s Association Inc., who said, “There is a peaceful coexistence between Filipino and Chinese fishermen at the shoal, and we hoped that the tension in the West Philippine Sea would not further escalate.”

Was the ‘follow-up’ report the next day by the PDI meant to erase whatever positive impression the previous report had made to the public?

P8.8 billion to develop KIG

Meanwhile, contrary to the repeated claims by the communists and their allies in the political opposition that the Duterte government has been “doing nothing” to solidify the country’s territorial claim in the West Philippine Sea, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), said the government has a budget of P8.869 billion for the “midterm development” of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), also known as ‘Spratly Islands.’

Presidential communications assistant secretary and NTF-WPS spokesperson, Omar Romero, in a statement last April 21, 2021, said the fund is “consistent with the overall plan of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), for the environmental protection, security, safety and sustainable development in Kalayaan.”

Kalayaan has been claimed for the Philippines as early as 1956 by Tomas Cloma, which he called the ‘Free Territory of Freedom Land.’

Cloma, who also founded the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI) in 1948, insisted on claiming the islands despite being nearly killed by Chinese coming from the renegade province of Taiwan, the same year he claimed the KIG/Spratly, as the Taiwanese also wanted it for themselves.

In 1978, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree 1596, which formalized the country’s claim of the KIG/Spratly as part of Philippine territory.

The decree also established the ‘Municipality of Kalayaan’ as part of Palawan province.

In his statement, Romero said that on the “directive” of Pres. Duterte, the country would “sustain our sovereignty patrols in the WPS, increase safety of life at sea operations and intensified operations against Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated Fishing (IUUF)” thru the deployment of “more assets” under the control of the task force’s ‘area task forces’ (ATFs).

Presently, Romero said ATF-West maintains 9 island detachments in the Municipality of Kalayaan with the biggest contingent at Pag-asa Island, the seat of the municipality. Pag-asa Island hosts the Rancudo Airfield which was built in 1978.

ATF-West also covers the Malampaya Gas Field and the resource-rich Recto Bank.

ATF-North covers Bajo de Masinloc, the islands north of Cagayan, Batanes Province, the Philippine Rise and the latter’s Extended Continental Shelf (ECS).

ATF-North also maintains detachments on the islands of Batanes.

To augment the vessels and aircraft currently under the control of the ATFs, the government has also deployed 4 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels, 1 PCG aircraft, 5 Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels for WPS maritime patrols, Romero said.

On the other hand, the high speed tactical watercraft and rubber boats of the Philippine National Police -Maritime Group (PNP-MG) are also deployed for maritime law enforcement in the coastal areas, Romero added.

He also assured that the Armed Forces (AFP), thru the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) and the Western Command (Westcom), continue to support the law enforcement and sovereignty patrols being conducted by the BFAR, PCG and the PNP-MG by utilizing the naval and air assets of the AFP.

“On Pag-asa, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) constructed a P1.1 billion sheltered port and beaching ramp, while the PAF (Phil. Air Force) is overseeing the rehabilitation of the airstrip,” Romero said, adding:

“These will greatly improve the transport of goods, people and services in and out of Pag-asa, and boost investments in fisheries and seasonal tourism.”

Romero said cellular and data services are already available at Pag-asa while the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is developing  a facility to provide free Wi-Fi internet coverage over the whole island.

Romero also said that five lighthouses are already constructed, located at Pag-asa, Patag (Flat) Island, Panata Island, Parola Island (Northeast Cay) and Likas (West York), for safety of navigation.

“The PN has provided desalination and solar powered lighting facilities for these features in support of our law enforcers stationed at the detachments,” he also pointed out.

Romero also said the government has already established ‘fishery management areas’ while a declaration of a ‘marine protected landscape and seascape’ is also presently being drawn up by the government.