‘We should also arrest Chinese trespassers in EEZ’

The Philippines should give China a taste of its own medicine by arresting Chinese "trespassers" in the country's exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

- SHEILA CRISOSTOMO, Ghio Ong

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said Chinese vessels should first seek permission from the Philippine government if they will go into the WPS.

"We have to show the trespassers that even if we don't have the capability... we will still try to apprehend anyone who will violate our laws and be made accountable," he added.

Barbers maintained that this act alone will send a strong message to the international community that "our nation adheres to and respects international laws and will ensure that as a democratic republic, we must be respected as well by like minded nations." Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino, Senate chairman of the special committee on maritime and admiralty zones, told Filipino fishermen to exercise precautions as they sail to fish in their traditional fishing grounds.

Tolentino said Filipino law enforcers used to patrol Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, where many foreign fishermen, including Chinese and Vietnamese, were arrested for illegal poaching since it had always been a territory and traditional fishing grounds of the Philippines.