Filipino fishermen prepare to unload fish after arriving from a week-long trip to the disputed Scarborough Shoal, in Infanta, Pangasinan province, Philippines, July 6, 2021. Picture taken July 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
MANILA, Philippines — On the fifth anniversary of the Philippines’ victory against China before the Hague, Malacañang disputed claims that Filipino fishermen are being prevented by Chinese boats from fishing in parts of the West Philippine Sea.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday rejected fisherfolk group Bigkis ng Mangingisda’s statement that Chinese vessels continued to block them from fishing in the area despite the landmark Hague ruling that invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim.
“I dispute that. Ako lang naman ang tumayong abogado ng mga mangingisda galing sa [Bajo de] Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), galing sa iba’t ibang bahagi po ng Pangasinan… At alam ko po, I have personal knowledge na halos lahat po sila ay nakabalik na sa kanilang hanapbuhay lalung-lalo na diyan po sa Boro (Scarborough Shoal) ‘no. So I dispute that,” Roque said when sought to comment on the group’s assertion.
(I dispute that. I happen to have stood as counsel for fishermen from Bajo de Masinloc and other parts of Pangasinan… And I know, and I have personal knowledge that almost all of them have already returned to their livelihoods, especially in Scarborough. So I dispute that.)
Pressed if he thinks the group is “lying,” Roque said: “Well I’m saying whoever said it must not be reporting the truth and everything but the truth ‘no.”
Even so, Roque said he will look into the group’s concern and ask local officials if fishermen are still prevented from pursuing their livelihoods.
Over the weekend, Bigkis ng Mangingisda called on President Rodrigo Duterte to assert the country’s right to fish in the West Philippine Sea and to protect the territory from foreign intrusion.
While he asserted the country’s arbitral ruling victory on some occasions, Duterte also repeatedly said that the Philippines would not go to war with China over the conflict in the disputed waters.