Panayam kay PCG Spokesperson for the West PHL Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela kaugnay ng ipinatupad na 'unilateral' fishing moratorium ng China
Panayam kay PCG Spokesperson for the West PHL Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela kaugnay ng ipinatupad na 'unilateral' fishing moratorium ng China
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00:00 China's unilateral fishing moratorium was implemented.
00:04 We will discuss this with Commodore Jay Tariella,
00:08 Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.
00:12 Commodore Jay, good afternoon.
00:14 Good afternoon, Ms. Ninia and to all of you in the studio.
00:21 Okay, sir. What is the reaction of the PCG to China's implementation of the fishing ban
00:26 or unilateral fishing moratorium on the so-called seas
00:31 that include the West Philippine Sea?
00:34 Well, Ms. Ninia, in the Philippine Coast Guard,
00:37 we support the statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs
00:40 that we are condemning this unilateral fishing ban that China announced
00:46 because we know that it is against our West Philippine Sea
00:51 and our only country that has sovereign rights and jurisdiction here
00:56 to decide on fishing bans like this.
00:59 The base of China is illegal and they have no right reason to decide on a fishing ban
01:08 that falls within our own exclusive economic zone.
01:11 Commodore, good afternoon.
01:13 What will be the implication of this fishing moratorium of the Beijing
01:18 for our fishermen and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea?
01:26 Well, our fishermen and fishermen have been talking about this for so many years.
01:33 They always have a fishing ban like this, but it never prevented our Filipino fishermen from tambales
01:40 and fishing to ban fishing here.
01:43 Our fishermen and fishermen are still going here.
01:46 It just goes to show that based on their experience and their experience,
01:53 China is not enforcing these regulations that they are saying
01:59 that only intends to discourage Filipino fishermen from going to the West Philippine Sea.
02:06 What will be the assistance of the PCG to our fishermen and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea?
02:16 Our Commander of the Philippine Coast Guard, Admiral Ronil Gavan,
02:22 has expressed his commitment to our President, President Bumbo Marcos,
02:27 and to the National Task Force of the West Philippine Sea.
02:30 The Philippine Coast Guard will look at our presence in Bajo de Masinloc in particular
02:37 because this is the place where the fishing ban in China was really imposed.
02:42 So we're going to intensify our presence in collaboration with the deployment of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
02:51 If you remember, Miss Tina, way back last February,
02:54 the National Security Advisor has already issued a directive for the Coast Guard and BFAR
03:01 to maintain rotational deployment in Bajo de Masinloc.
03:04 Commodore, in your monitoring,
03:08 maybe the Chinese fishing vessels in the area where they are implementing their unilateral fishing moratorium will be added.
03:19 Well actually, the data that we have obtained in the past few days doesn't really add up to explain China's seriousness
03:29 to enforce what they're saying about this fishing ban.
03:33 Because on our recent monitoring today,
03:36 there are two Chinese Coast Guard and one maritime militia only in Bajo de Masinloc.
03:42 So if we compare the number of vessels that were deployed during the Atenito convoy, which reached almost 50,
03:51 now the number of their maritime forces here is very small, to include the maritime militia.
03:57 So we can argue, if China is serious about enforcing the fishing ban and their upcoming regulation,
04:04 they should have beefed up or boost the additional number of Coast Guard vessels that are deployed here.
04:11 But as I said, in an annual, in an average, the number of Coast Guard vessels that are deployed in Bajo de Masinloc are four vessels.
04:22 But now, it's only two.
04:24 So this doesn't add up to explain that this enforcement is one of China's misdeeds.
04:32 So, sir, do you know how many fishermen go fishing in that area, in that area where they say there's a fishing ban?
04:45 Do you have an idea?
04:47 And how is it, what is your advice to them? Do you still encourage them to go?
04:54 Well Ms. Nina, let me clarify. The fishing ban that was announced by China is 12-degree latitude.
05:04 So it means that the traditional fishing area for the Filipinos is Bajo de Masinloc area.
05:13 Now if you're going to ask me what are the specific number of people that we can count as fishermen going to Bajo de Masinloc,
05:24 that's a very large number of fishing communities.
05:28 Because the people from Pangasinan, Zambales and even in Mindoro area are going to Bajo de Masinloc.
05:37 So I do not have the number, but I know for a fact that the number of fishermen is large and they are going to Bajo de Masinloc.
05:45 And then for your other question, what is our advice here?
05:49 If you know Ms. Nina, in the past interviews in the past days since the announcement by China,
05:57 there are Zambales fishermen who said that they're just going to ignore this,
06:03 they will continue to fish Bajo de Masinloc because they know that in the past years,
06:09 they are still able to fish despite of this kind of fishing ban that China is implementing.
06:15 So on our part, since our stand is that we don't recognize this kind of fishing ban that China is implementing,
06:25 there's no reason for us to prevent or to advise our Filipino fishermen not to be engaged in fishing in these areas.
06:35 Again, the so-called ban that China is implementing is illegal and they don't have a solid basis.
06:42 Our position on Bajo de Masinloc is in accordance with the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea
06:51 and their 9-9 was already invalidated by the arbitral award.
06:55 Are you going to send more PCG vessels? How will you secure our fishermen?
07:02 Because just in case, of course, expect more, let's say let's ignore it.
07:07 But what if someone is detained, caught, and God forbid, someone dies because of this kind of moratorium?
07:13 I'm sorry Ms. Nina, but those are operational details already.
07:18 But there's only one thing that I can assure you,
07:21 the Philippine Coast Guard has already come up with contingencies in ensuring that we will protect the rights of our fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc.
07:33 Commodore, before this fishing moratorium is announced by China,
07:38 the detainment of the deomonite trespassers here in the WPS,
07:43 what can the Philippine Coast Guard say about this?
07:48 If we can remember, the day the Chinese embassy announced this new regulation,
07:55 where they're going to detain the trespassers in their maritime jurisdiction,
08:01 is also on the day that Ms. Rafaela David announced her mission accomplished to the Atiny-2 convoy that went to Bajo de Masinloc.
08:12 We can argue that China really made the announcement of this regulation on the day that Atiny-2's mission was successful.
08:23 Because we saw the headache that Atiny-2 convoy caused in China,
08:29 they even deployed as many as 50 Chinese maritime forces to prevent Atiny-2 from reaching Bajo de Masinloc.
08:37 So in short, the intention of China is to ensure that there will be no more civil society within our country here in the Philippines
08:47 and other Southeast Asian countries that will be affected by this activity.
08:52 You can just imagine, if there are more civil society movements like Ms. Rafaela David,
09:00 it will really be a headache and a very big problem for China
09:04 because they really don't know how to respond with this kind of civil society movement.
09:08 What will be the outcome of the PCG if the Chinese Coast Guard implements this policy starting June 16?
09:18 Well, as what I mentioned Ms. Nina, the Coast Guard will be intensifying our presence.
09:26 At the same time, more Coast Guard vessels to get in collaboration with the armed forces of the Philippines.
09:33 We will do that. We will intensify our presence in patrolling here.
09:37 Now, if this happens, we're just going to treat it as harassment to Filipino fishermen
09:46 because they do not have... that's basically illegal detention,
09:49 because they do not have any legal basis to support such activity of enforcement.
09:55 All right.
09:58 Just a follow-up, Commodore, we are not studying to counter such policy.
10:03 Can we not detain Chinese trespassers in our exclusive economic zone?
10:10 Well, the Philippine Coast Guard is always in compliance with the guidance
10:18 and policy direction of the National Task Force West Philippine Sea and even the President.
10:24 If it would be the desire of the national government to do the same thing,
10:29 then there's no reason for the Philippine Coast Guard not to comply with any policy direction.
10:34 All right. Maraming salamat po sa inyong oras,
10:38 PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tariella.