PCG catches actual installation of floating barriers by CCG
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00:00 The cat and mouse chase on the high seas between intrusive Chinese vessels and smaller Filipino fishing boats and patrol watercrafts of the PCG has shifted from the Ayungan Shoal to the Scarborough Shoal.
00:13 This after the Chinese doubled down on their bad behavior by laying down a 300 meter long buoy over the weekend at the southeast part of the shoal, blocking fishermen's entry to an otherwise exclusively owned Philippine territory.
00:28 Our Patrick De Jesus tells us more.
00:31 This is like a cat and mouse chase down between China Coast Guard personnel on board a rigid hull inflatable boat and a Filipino fisherman in his fishing boat.
00:44 The incident happened last Friday, September 22, while the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel BRP Dato Bangkaw was conducting patrol in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, which is inside the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
01:01 The Chinese crew continued to go after the fisherman until another rib was unloaded and joined the chase.
01:09 The Chinese boat came close, almost hitting the fishing boat.
01:13 Their aim is to drive away the fisherman and everyone else not Chinese trying to enter Scarborough Shoal.
01:19 The high seas chase lasted for nearly 10 minutes.
01:23 The brave fisherman, well, his name is Arnel.
01:28 I can't enter because I'm afraid.
01:34 You're afraid?
01:36 Yes, I'm afraid. I can't enter.
01:38 I'm afraid of two things. I'm afraid of a fish.
01:43 I'm afraid of a fish. I'm afraid of a fish.
01:46 They don't have weapons. I'm not afraid.
01:49 But you might get hit by a fish.
01:51 No, I'm not afraid of a fish.
01:53 You're not afraid of a fish?
01:54 No.
01:55 I'm not afraid of a fish.
01:57 Other fisherfolk claim and tell of the same harassment.
02:01 As the entry into Scarborough Shoal is heavily guarded by China.
02:05 There's an instance. A huge China Coast Guard vessel came close to the Befar ship we were on board, 18 meters close.
02:14 Meanwhile, the crew of the Chinese ship can be seen taking photos.
02:18 The CCG vessel was also flashing a message on its LED board telling the Befar vessel to leave.
02:25 Pinoy fisherfolk say China's act of harassment denied them of their livelihood inside the shoal, teeming with fish and marine life.
02:33 It's like a bad omen for us. We were chased by the China Coast Guard.
02:41 The Chinese ship helped us a lot. Especially when there's bad weather, we can't go fishing here.
02:48 What happened?
02:49 We can't go near the ship. We're far away. They're going to attack us. We're scared.
02:55 We're just going home. We're not going to fight.
03:00 You're not going home?
03:02 We're not going home. We're not allowed to go fishing here.
03:05 If the weather is bad, we go home.
03:09 At the entry to the shoal, a 300-meter chain of buoys has been laid out.
03:15 From underneath, ticker ropes and chains are clearly visible.
03:19 Dead corals can also be seen in the seabed of Baja de Masinloc.
03:24 The actual installation of floating barriers by China's Coast Guard and militia vessels was caught on record by the PCG.
03:33 This was condemned by the government as it prevents Pinoy fisher folk from entering the shoal.
03:39 Any country that stops Filipinos from fishing is a violation of the UNCLOS and international law.
03:46 So this is being condemned by the National Security Council.
03:49 We will send a report to our President about this.
03:55 The NSC will always inform the President of the important activities in Ayungin, Baja de Masinloc, and other areas of the Kalayaan Island Group.
04:06 As far as the NSC is concerned, we have already reported to our President about this issue.
04:13 The BIFAR and PCG conducted a resupply mission for fisher folk in Baja de Masinloc.
04:20 The BIFAR ship BRP Dato Bangkaw anchored for two days near Escarburo and was swarmed by fishing boats.
04:28 They received free diesel, which is a big help for them to stay longer on the sea and catch more fish.
04:35 Food provisions were also distributed.
04:38 To express gratitude, they voluntarily shared some of the fish they caught.
04:43 We heard on the radio that some people are willing to help us with the fishing boats.
04:50 We are very happy, especially since we were able to come here.
04:54 Even from a distance, the presence of China Coast Guard vessels looms large.
05:00 Despite this, the resupply mission was successful, wherein 54 mother boats or hundreds of service boats received a total of 60,000 liters of diesel.
05:11 The PCG, meanwhile, countered China's statement that incidents in the WPS are merely political drama.
05:20 We don't do drama. We produce factual events, truthful narratives.
05:27 We don't make up stories.
05:29 The stories that we provide are all supported by pictures, footages.
05:37 Again, that's not drama. That's purely a real story.
05:43 Filipino fisherfolks continue to brave the challenges brought by the presence of foreign vessels,
05:49 not just for their livelihood, but also to assert our rights inside our territory.
05:55 On board the BRP DATU-BANGKAU, here at the Escarburo Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, Patrick De Jesus for the Nation.