Despite harassment of fishermen, PHL will not deploy Coast Guard to disputed ... - GMA News

There are no plans to deploy Coast Guard personnel to the disputed Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal despite the alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen there by Chinese authorities, Malacañang said Friday.

During a press conference, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she is not aware of any directive from President Benigno Aquino III to send the Coast Guard to the shoal.

She also said the Philippines has "adopted the policy of non-provocation and non-confrontation."

"In fact, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces had already mentioned this that due to the fact that the government, or at least, this particular administration has already adopted the policy of settling the dispute peacefully and under the rule of law, we will abide by that pact—obviously referring to the case that we filed before the arbitral tribunal," Valte said.

"As such all the agencies that may have something to do with the particular claim are already—have already been long advised of what to—on how to go about this," she added.

But she noted that Coast Guard vessels continue to patrol the country's waters.

"That’s normal and that’s regular," Valte said, although admitting they cannot surround the entire country at the same time given certain limitations.

Valte also said it is still the call of the secretary of the Department of National Defense whether to deploy vessels to certain areas.

The Palace official issued the statement after ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said the Coast Guard’s presence in the shoal might deter Chinese authorities from harassing Filipino fishermen in the disputed waters.

Harassment

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has filed a diplomatic protest against China over several cases of harassment of Filipino fishermen, including last month’s water cannon attack, in Manila-claimed Panatag Shoal off the South China Sea.

Aquino has also asked Beijing to explain their intentions and what the incident was all about.

But China rejected Manila’s protest, insisting it has “indisputable sovereignty over South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters” including Panatag Shoal.

It also urged the Philippines "to work with the Chinese side to resolve differences through bilateral consultations and negotiations.”

The Palace, however, rejected this and said the Philippine government will pursue the arbitration case filed before the United Nations. — KBK, GMA News

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