West Philippine Sea: PCG verifying reports of CCG vessels near Zambales

Some fishermen in Masinloc, Zambales joined a fishing expedition organized by Pamalakaya last month in a symbolic move to resist China’s fishing ban. | PHOTO: Joanna Rose Aglibot / Inquirer Central Luzon

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station in this province on Tuesday said it is verifying reports from fishermen that China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were seen near Masinloc waters.

According to Commander Euphraim Jayson Diciano, head of the PCG station in Zambales, they received the reports over the weekend and are still verifying if they were true.

“If such situation arises, it needs higher decision-making approval to appraise them on the evolving situation,” said Diciano.

READ: West Philippine Sea: China Coast Guard inching closer to Zambales – report

Diciano added: “We will always be here to preserve our people’s way of life and protect our fishermen from potential threats, intimidation, or harassment.”

As early as February, some fishermen in this province, even those who don’t make it near Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), were expressing alarmed after seeing CCG vessels as close as 30 nautical miles (NM) from Masinloc town.

But since the implementation of China’s new rules that allows its coast guard to detain for up to 60 days without trial any foreigner who illegally crosses its claimed borders in the South China Sea that includes parts of the WPS, fishermen have been seeing at least three CCG vessels inching closer to Masinloc waters.

READ: Zambales fishers lament China Coast Guard’s bullying in Scarborough

Citing reports from other fishermen, Leonardo Cuaresma, president of New Masinloc Fishermen Association said that fishermen who were supposed to harvest from their payao (fish aggregating device) 40 NM from Masinloc town were shooed away by CCG vessels.

In 2012, China seized control of the Scarborough shoal, a traditional fishing ground of many fishermen in this province after a tense standoff with the Philippine Navy, which led the Philippine government to file a case against China before the international arbitration court.

Part of the ruling, which came out in 2016, classified the shoal as a traditional fishing ground that should be shared by neighboring countries.

But China continues to control the shoal despite the verdict. On multiple incidents in the last decade, Filipino fishermen were chased by the CCG, driving them away using water cannons.