Pinoys fishing at Panatag Shoal again due to mutual trust between PHL, China — DFA

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. reiterated that no agreement has been forged between the Philippines and China over Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) in the South China Sea.

Yasay echoed the clarification after Filipino fishermen went some days ago to the disputed territory, where they have not been able to fish for about four years.

In an interview with GMA News' JP Soriano, Yasay said the move could be seen as part of a renewed trust-building between the two countries.

"There is no agreement that has been arrived at with China insofar as these ships leaving or our fishermen having access to Scarborough but I would imagine as part of our quiet diplomacy trying to build mutual trust and confidence with two countries, these have been made possible," Yasay said.

He also denied that the Philippines sought China's permission to let the fishermen back in Panatag.

"We do not want China, for instance, to allow our fishermen to fish there because allowing our fishermen to fish there will suggest sila may authority to allow us," he said.

Yasay, however, did not directly respond when asked why China's Navy and Coast Guard are still in the area but were reportedly no longer harassing Filipino fishermen. A

GMA News crew that spent the weekend in Panatag Shoal noted the absence of patrolling Philippine Coast Guard personnel in the area.

A report by GMA News' Raffy Tima on 24 Oras on Wednesday said the PCG will resume its patrol there on Thursday.

"As far as I know, bukas magse-sail off, magse-sail 'yung ano, 'yung Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard papunta dun sa Scarborough," said National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., head of Task Force on West Philippine Sea.

Earlier, a source of GMA News said the PCG was pulled out of Panatag Shoal ahead of Typhoon Lawin's arrival to the country late last month, and was not ordered to return pending "guidance" after President Rodrigo Duterte's state visit to China.

Esperon, however, said the Philippines has kept its presence in the shoal at a distance.

"Para maiwasan ang undue or accidental encounters na hindi maganda eh hindi masyadong lumalapit, but we are right there within the Scarborough Shoal," he said. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/VVP, GMA News