Filipinos should be allowed to access Panatag Shoal's lagoon —former envoy

Former Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja on Monday said Malacañang should clarify which part of Panatag Shoal will the Filipinos be allowed to access.

Baja said in an interview on Unang Balita that Filipino fishermen should be allowed to access the shoal's lagoon, which is rich in marine products.

"Sabi nga ni Presidente [Rodrigo Duterte], baka sa mga darating na araw ay makapangisda na doon ang ating fishermen. Sana mga matupad ang promise na iyon... At saka kailan at kung saan kasi sa isang briefing na na-attend ko, ang Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal ay may lagoon iyon na napakalawak, nandoon ang mga isda," the former ambassador said.

"Doon sa paligid ng waters around the Scarborough Shoal, eh ubos na raw ang mga isda doon eh. So dapat ang ating access ay mismong sa lagoon mismo," Baja added.

Duterte said in his speech in calamity-stricken Tuguegarao City on Sunday afternoon that he believed Chinese fishermen have been told to leave the Scarborough Shoal and that he expects Filipino fishermen to be able to gain access to the shoal.

He said that the shoal's lagoon should be preserved because it is a fish spawning ground and to ensure a steady supply of marine products from the disputed territory.

In the same interview, Baja said that Duterte's move to renew and strengthen the Philippines' ties with China was a welcome development.

"China is our neighbor to the north and importanteng bansa din naman 'yan. Dapat makipag-ugnayan ng mas malawak," Baja said.

He, however, urged Duterte to minimize his cursing and controversial and confusing pronouncements in his speeches.

Duterte has been attacking President Barack Obama and the US government. He had also hurled tirades against former US ambassador to Manila Philip Goldberg, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the EU parliament.

"Pero siya ang pagbibitiw niya sana hindi masyadong mura, hindi masyadong kontrobersiyal. Dapat ang foreign policies clear and coherent para naman ang mga internatinoal community ay hindi mababawasan sa Pilipinas," Baja said. —ALG, GMA News