Lorenzana directs AFP to confirm alleged harassment of Pinoy fishermen

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday he has already directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to confirm the report on the alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, the Department of National Defense (DND) said "there has been no substantiated report" from their units on the ground that can confirm the alleged incident, based on their initial communication with the AFP Western Command (WESCOM).

“The AFP, through the Naval Forces West under WESCOM, will nonetheless continuously validate and report any information relevant to Mayor del Mundo’s claims,” the statement read.

Kalayaan, Palawan Mayor Roberto Del Mundo on Tuesday claimed that around 50 Chinese vessels were allegedly sailing near Pag-asa Island and intimidating local fishermen. 

According to him, local fishermen were shooed away by Chinese nationals from Sandy Cay, a group of sandbars between Pag-asa Island and China's artificial island in Subi Reef.

The DND reminded that the said area where the alleged harassment took place is a traditional fishing ground for the Philippines and other countries like China and Vietnam.

WESCOM has been encouraging locals from Pag-asa to continue fishing around the area, the DND said.

“…It has been observed that they have not been fishing in the vicinity of the sandbar, even before the Chinese fishing vessels were sighted in the area,” the statement read.

According to DND, a sheltered port is now being constructed on Pag-asa Island to help local fishermen. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News