Navy won’t recognize China fish ban in Phi waters

Filipino fishermen may go about their business in the country's territorial waters unmolested and assured of protection from the Philippine Navy, which vowed not to recognize Beijing's unilateral four-month-long fishing ban in the South China Sea.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN and JOSE RODEL CLAPANO

"The Philippine Navy does not recognize this provocative statement nor will we be deterred in performing our mandate of securing the welfare of Filipino wherever he/she is - on land or at sea," Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said yesterday.

Trinidad said the Navy has stepped up patrols in the West Philippine Sea, especially in areas where most cases of Chinese harassment of Filipino fishermen had taken place like in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

Intensified patrols by the Philippine Navy will also cover the Northern islands in the archipelago.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), for their part, will be conducting "rotational deployment" in Panatag Shoal to protect Filipino fishermen from possible Chinese harassment.

In an interview with "Storycon" on One News, PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said the deployment is in accordance with instructions from National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año.

"Let me clarify it. The fishing moratorium is 12 degrees latitude up north. Basically, what will hit the fishing moratorium is our traditional fishing area up north, which is Bajo de Masinloc, our traditional fishing area," Tarriela said, referring to Panatag Shoal by its local name.

"I cannot say it is round-the clock," he said, referring to the extent and duration of the deployment.

"But definitely, (it will be) alternate between the BFAR and Coast Guard. There are so many things to consider, the legit requirements of operations of the vessel. But every once in a while, the Coast Guard and BFAR will be deploying our vessels to ensure our presence in Bajo de Masinloc." The Philippine Navy has monitored at least 122 Chinese boats in various areas in the West Philippine Sea, especially around the Panatag, Ayungin and Escoda (Sabina) Shoals.