Local fishermen who fish in Bajo de Masinloc, also called Panatag Shoal, denied “provoking” Chinese coast guard which supposedly led to the Chinese using a water cannon to drive the Filipinos away.
In an exclusive interview aired on GMA News’ “24 Oras” Thursday evening, Ramoncito Dumas, one of the fishermen that the Chinese coast guard drove away with a water cannon on Jan. 27, said they were not provoking the Chinese, but were trapped in the shoal because of bad weather.
“Itinataboy naman nila kami papalayo sa Scarborough Shoal (another name for Bajo de Masinloc). Eh, hindi naman kami puwedeng lumabas kasi kasagsagan ng lakas ng Amihan. Mahirap naman isapalaran namin yung buhay namin sa labas ng Scarborough,” Dumas narrated.
He even showed GMA News a video of the incident, taken on his cell phone. Dumas’ video showed three Chinese Coast Guard vessels surrounding the two Filipino fishing boats.
“Pano kami magiging siga, e yung sasakyan nila ang lalaki, tapos yung sa’min maliliit lang na mga bangka?,” Magno said.
He said they will continue to fish in the shoal as long as there is no order from the government to leave the area.
“Kung sinabi ng gobyerno natin na kami ay umalis doon, puwede. Pero kapag China, hindi puwede dahil hindi naman sila tagarito. Dayo sila dito sa’tin, sila ang dapat umalis,” Magno said.
Another fisherman echoed Magno’s position. “Mahirap e (to stop fishing), yan lang ang pinagka-kitaan namin,” he said.
The fisherman also recounted how they were being harassed by Chinese authorities. “Minsan umiikot sila sa’min, magsi-siren, halos muntik kami mabangga,” he said.
Another fisherman also attested to harassment by Chinese authorities.
“Kasi papunta palang dun, sasalubingin ka na ng mga Chinese e. Talagang itataboy ka, kapag hindi ka kuwan(tatabi), babanggain ka nila e. Ngayon, siyempre, kapag lumakas ang hangin, delikado sa mga bangka, gawa ng hindi talaga nila papapasukin sa loob (ng shoal) yan,” he said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier said patrols in the area are continuous, but that there is no need to deploy military troops yet.
“We will react appropriately, depende sa sitwasyon…Sa sitwasyon ngayon, it does not merit a military response,” said AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala.
Panatag Shoal lies 220 kilometers off Zambales and is considered a traditional fishing ground by local fishermen. It is about 650 kilometers from China’s Hainan island-province. — Elizabeth Marceol/JDS, GMA News
