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NewsTranscript
00:00The number of Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinlok is not declining due to the fear of being caught by China.
00:06They are asking the Philippine Coast Guard to accompany them in their fishing.
00:10And for that, we will talk this morning with Commodore J. Tariella, Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.
00:17Commodore Tariella, good morning.
00:20Good morning, sir. And to you, my fellow survivors, sir.
00:23Commodore, what is the role of the Philippine Coast Guard in asking the fishermen?
00:28Well, actually, sir Ivan, the Philippine Coast Guard, since June 14, we have already deployed two MRV vessels here,
00:37the BRP Sindangan and the BRP Malapascua.
00:41And as we speak right now, the Philippine Coast Guard continues to patrol Bajo de Masinlok.
00:46And I think it's also worth sharing, since June 14, when our Filipino fishermen died,
00:54the Philippine Coast Guard was already increasing the number of Filipino fishing boats that we were able to monitor in Bajo de Masinlok.
01:01In June 15, we have recorded three Filipino fishing boats, and then it increased to seven.
01:09And now, currently, we have monitored ten Filipino fishing boats that are in Bajo de Masinlok right now.
01:15In other areas, are our fishermen also like this? They also go fishing and are also escorted by the Coast Guard?
01:23In other areas, sir Ivan, the Philippine Coast Guard, as expressed by the Commandant, Admiral Lonnie Hilgabal,
01:30we have already intensified our deployment of the Philippine Coast Guard vessels in different parts of the West Philippine Sea.
01:36Our vessels may not be enough, but the strategic deployment of our boats,
01:42we prioritized the areas where we know that a high number of Filipino fishermen are going here.
01:50What's clear here is the constant assurance of the Philippine Coast Guard that they will not let our fishermen continue their search for life.
02:00Yes, sir Ivan. That's a commitment that we are willing to keep, to carry out our patriotic duty to take care and ensure the safety of our Filipino fishermen in the West Philippines.
02:13According to the order of China, they will be arrested by the so-called trespassers in the South China Sea.
02:19Is there an actual case that they were arrested or just arrested?
02:27Actually, sir Ivan, for so many interviews that I have done, I always say that our basis is the number of deployment of the China Coast Guard
02:38and Chinese Maritime Militia as to size up whether they are really serious in doing this illegal law enforcement regulation of theirs.
02:48We should look into the vessels that they are deploying.
02:53But right now, for example, in Bajo de Masilo, there are only three China Coast Guard vessels, six Chinese Maritime Militia.
03:02There's even a clear departure of their usual deployment.
03:05The usual deployment of the Chinese Coast Guard in Bajo de Masilo is four and not less than ten Chinese Maritime Militia.
03:13And then if we compare this to what they said that they will block our convoy of the group of Ms. Rabiela David,
03:21they even deployed as many as 50 China Coast Guard, more than 30 plus Chinese Maritime Militia and some Pele Navy vessels.
03:31It means that they are really serious in deploying those.
03:34Now, since June 15, we are monitoring whether there is a substantial increase of Chinese Maritime forces in Bajo de Masilo
03:43and in other areas in Calayan Island group.
03:46It's still not increasing.
03:47It still remains to be lower than the normal threshold of deployment in China Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Militia.
03:56So you think this is mere muscle flexing and they will not fulfill their promise?
04:02Is this the analysis of the Coast Guard in what they're saying that they will be arrested, Commodore?
04:08Well Sir Ivan, if we remember, when China first publicized their China Coast Guard law,
04:17they mentioned they're going to use weapons, they're going to use force,
04:22and they're even going to dismantle the illegal installation in different parts of the South China Sea that are included in the 9-9.
04:31But it's been a few years and they haven't been dismantled.
04:35They can't use weapons besides the water cannoning that they're doing to us.
04:40My personal take on this regulation is, since on the same day that Ms. Rafaela David declared that their mission in Bajo de Masilo is successful,
04:52For me, this is an empty threat.
04:55They just intend to discourage the civil society from doing the same event that Ms. Rafaela David did of a civilian society convoy.
05:04We know how big China's head is here.
05:08As I said, they have deployed more than 50 Chinese maritime forces.
05:12You can just imagine, if this is imitated by Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, even Taiwan,
05:19they might run out of maritime forces for them to counter a civil society movement.
05:26So for me, it doesn't just address the discouragement of civil society, but it also threatens the fishermen,
05:35not only here in the Philippines, but also in other countries in Southeast Asia.
05:40Right. Lastly, Commodore, do we have an update on the resupply vessel of the Philippines and China Coast Guard ship in Iungin Shoal?
05:48Well, the details of that operation, as I said, the resupply mission is purely a mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the Department of National Defense.
05:58I'm not in the position to disclose the operational details that transpired during that mission.
06:04Commodore, thank you very much for the update. Good morning.
06:07Thank you very much.
06:09We talked to Commodore Jay Tariella, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.
06:17For more GMA Integrated News on YouTube and abroad, follow us on GMA Pinoy TV and www.gminews.tv.