China has control of Scarborough Shoal, fisher says

Despite it being within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Scarborough Shoal seems to be under the control of China, at least according to one of the fishermen whose catch were seized by Chinese Coast Guard last May.

"Sa tingin ko Tsina pa rin [ang may kontrol] pero dahil sa magandang ano ng Pilipinas at China ngayon, pinapayagan tayo [mangisda doon]. Yung patuloy na pagkakaibigan ng China at Pilipinas, pinapayagan ang Pilipino na mangisda diyan," Rommel Sihuela said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday.

He then urged the government to ask China to limit its control over the shoal.

Sihuela was among the three fishermen presented by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque during Monday's briefing in Malacañang to narrate their plight in catching fish in the disputed area. Roque said the three were his clients when they filed a complaint against China in 2015.

Sihuela said that while they are now allowed to fish in Scarborough Shoal, he still believes that China has control over the area.

"Limitahan [sana] sila. Kumbaga 'yun nga, kung lalapit sila sa amin hihintayin nila kung ilan [na huling isda] lang ang ibibigay namin," Sejuela said when asked about their request from the Philippine government.

In a Reporters Notebook documentary, Chinese Coast Guard personnel were seen boarding the boats of Filipino fishermen to get their best catch.

Sihuela recalled that since 2013, the Chinese Coast Guard had been preventing them to go near the shoal to catch fish.

"Simula nung hindi nagkaintindihan 'yung gobyerno natin, hinaharang na kami hanggang tuluyang di na kami nakakapunta. Babalik na lang tapos hanggang dito na lang sa bandang gilid mangingisda para lang 'di kami uuwi nang lugi," he said.

But at present, Sihuela said Filipino fishermen have been allowed to catch fish in the disputed area.

Roque said this happened after the Philippines adopted a new policy of not aggravating China.

"Sila ay nakapangisda na lang nung 2017 nung nagkaroon ng bagong polisiya sa administrasyon ni Presidente [Rodrigo] Duterte kung saan itinigil na natin 'yung pangangaway natin sa Tsina," he said.

"Wala kaming magawa"

Despite this, Sihuela complained that the Chinese Coast Guard still seize their catch. "Parang nagkakaproblema lang sa amin na humihingi ng isda sa amin ang Chinese Coast Guard," he said.

"Wala naman kaming magagawa, kumbaga nakikisama lang kami," the fisherman added.

In exchange for their catch, Sihuela said the Chinese Coast Guard give them packs of noodles, cigarettes and clean water.

He admitted, however, that it pains them to know that their hard-earned catch are being seized from them.

"Medyo mabigat sa kalooban mo pero pilit mong tanggapin 'yun kasi sila ang may power diyan. Kasi sila ang nakaantabay diyan," he said.

Sihuela also clarified that they are not being harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard.

"Linawin lang namin na wala namang ginawang pangha-harass sa amin, mapilit lang silang kumuha ng isda dahil hindi namin kami magkaintindihan," he said.

"Yun lang ang nililinaw namin sa publiko sana tigilan ang pang-aano kasi baka hindi na naman kami makapasok sa Scarborough so magugutom na yung pamilya namin kapag nagkagariin ang gobyerno natin," Sihuela added.

Mend bonds

Instead of going against China, Sihuela said he would want the two governments to mend their bonds in order for the Chinese Coast Guard to stop seizing their catch.

"Sa akin tama na siguro ito kasi kung hahalungkatin natin siguro lalayo na naman kami sa hanapbuhay namin kasi yun nga hihigpitan kami sa pagpasok sa isla na yun," he said.

"Kapag gusto ng mamamayan na ipaglaban, parang hihigpitan ng China kaming mangingisda, hindi na ulit kami papapasukin doon. Malaking usapin na naman 'yan. Siguro sa amin, okay na yan," Sihuela added.

Sihuela thanked President Rodrigo Duterte that they are now allowed to enter the shoal and catch fish. "Nagpapasalamat kami kay Presidente Duterte na nakakapasok na kami diyan sa loob na hindi kami hinaharang."

China, PHL taking action

Roque said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua have already discussed and are taking action on the incident of seizing fish catch in the Scarborough Shoal.

"Kinukumpirma ko rin ang report na nagrereklamo ang tatlong mangingisda na ito na nung Mayo ay kinuhaan sila ng isda ng Chinese coast guard. At kino-confirm ko po na nakapag-usap na si Secretary Cayetano at si Chinese Ambassador Zhao tungkol sa insidenteng ito," he said.

"In-assure ako ng Ambassador na hindi ito polisiya ng Tsina, na nag-iimbestiga ang Beijing at kung mapapatunayan ang sinabi ng mga mangingisda, merong kaparusahan na ipapataw dito sa mga Chinese Coast Guard na ito," he added. —KBK, GMA News