No assault, but Chinese ‘intimidating’ Filipino fishermen near Pagasa Island, says Kalayaan mayor

Although no direct assault was done by the Chinese nationals aboard dozens of vessels near Pagasa Island, the message of intimidation was clear for the local fishermen, according to Kalayaan, Palawan Mayor Roberto Del Mundo.

In a report by Ivan Mayrina on GMA News TV's State of the Nation with Jessica Soho on Thursday, Del Mundo said that he personally witnessed how the vessels' presence prevented the Filipino fisherfolk from venturing out further near Sandy Cay or group of sandbars in Pagasa Island's vicinity.

"'Yung mangingisda namin na gustong mangisda du'n, kuwan pa lang, palapit pa lang nand'yan na 'yung mga vessel nila paikot-ikot, hindi kami, hindi sila makapasok, hindi sila maka-penetrate sa loob kaya ang ginagawa umaatras na lang," Del Mundo said.

"Hindi mo masasabing tinataboy. Hindi naman ibig sabihin tinataboy ka na, binobombahan ka ng tubig. Hindi naman. Sign na 'yun na ibig sabihin 'wag ka na tumuloy kaya hindi na kami natuloy parang kanila na 'yun, na parang hindi na natin pwedeng lapitan 'yun," he added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), on the other hand, said that there are no reported cases of harassment in the area and that Filipino fishing vessels are not prevented from conducting economic activities in the West Philippine Sea.

"Hindi naman pinipigilan, siguro medyo natatakot lang sila kung may nakikitang mga ibang mga fishing vessel doon but as far as I know ay hindi naman tayo pinipigilan," AFP chief General Benjamin Madrigal said.

He encouraged the local fishermen to coordinate with troops in the area should such incidents arise.

The AFP Western Command has previously said that so far, they have not received any complaint of harassment among local fishermen near Pagasa Island.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the matter will be closely watched over.

"The AFP, through the Naval Forces West under Wescom, will nonetheless continuously validate and report any information relevant to Mayor Del Mundo's claims," he said.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said that they are also verifying the issue.

"We are checking and we are in close coordination with DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and we will be checking whether it is true or not but rest assured China is committed to peacefully settle the disputes we have and we are working very well in managing our differences," he said. —Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA News