Allowed by Chinese to fish, Filipino fishers still uneasy in Scarborough Shoal

Fishermen who fish in waters off Scarborough Shoal said members of the China Coast Guard have stopped taking their catch.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on Reporter's Notebook, however, the Filipinos said they still felt they had no right to fish in the area.

Earlier this month, the Chinese prevented a team from the television show Reporter's Notebook to do follow-up interviews of fishermen in the shoal.

The team was interviewing the Filipinos who exposed in May how the Chinese board their boats and take their catch.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio said the area was a "common fishing ground" and that taking pictures ans videos, and conducting interviews should be allowed.

According to Maki Pulido's report, Carpio said that the Philippine government should strongly urge China to recognize the ruling of the Hague-based tribunal invalidating China's massive claims in the West Philippine Sea.

Meanwhile, maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal urged the Duterte administration to protest the recent action of the Chinese men against Veneracion and his crew.

Batongbacal further stated that China's action only shows that the latter has intensified its control in the resource-rich region.

Some lawmakers echoed Batongbacal, saying that a diplomatic protest must be filed before the government of China. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News