Palace to Reporter’s Notebook: File complaint so DFA can ask China about Panatag Shoal incident

Malacañang on Monday advised GMA Network to file a report with the government after the China Coast Guard tried to prevent the crew of its Reporter’s Notebook series from making a documentary in Panatag Shoal.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after some lawmakers urged the government to file a diplomatic protest about the incident, with opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV blasting China for its "acts of aggression."

"[Y]ou [GMA Network] have to give us a letter complaint, expressing your concern so that we can act appropriately. We will refer your complaint to the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs], and the DFA will write the government of China whether or not there is such a policy," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said at a news conference.

"Because I heard also the Coast Guard saying, it’s prohibited for you to interview but you are welcome for fishing activity; and interviewing is not a fishing activity," he added.

Panelo said he also raised the incident with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua, who in turn advised him to have the matter go through a process.

"I asked the Ambassador of China. Sabi ko, ‘Is that a policy of yours? Sabi niya, ‘I do not know, DFA should.’ Kumbaga we have to make formal communication also after we receive also a formal complaint. Eh wala pa tayong nare-receive eh. That was precisely my advice to GMA 7 correspondents," he said.

Panelo, however, insisted that the government will not allow any Filipino to be harassed.

"Hindi tayo papayag na hina-harass tayo kahit saang lugar, ke sa bansa natin o sa bansa nila," he said.

He reiterated the Philippines' call for fellow claimant countries to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities in the South China Sea and for a code of conduct in the disputed waters.

Earlier this month, GMA News' Jun Veneracion and his team were prohibited by the Chinese from taking videos and conducting interviews in the area.

Veneracion said the Chinese coast guardsmen told him that without permission from China, his team could not do the documentary in Panatag Shoal, even saying that they were in the "sea area of the People’s Republic of China.”

The United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration delivered in July 2016 a sweeping victory to the Philippines on the case it filed against China during the term of then-President Benigno Aquino III, declaring as illegal China's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.

It also declared that Beijing violated the rights of Filipinos, who were blocked by Chinese Coast Guard from fishing in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales. The shoal is within the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

Duterte, however, refused to flaunt the ruling and his rapprochement with China since taking office in June 2016 has been seen as a reason for Beijing to allow Philippine fishermen back into the waters around the shoal. — BM, GMA News