Pamalakaya storms Chinese consulate, slams Beijing's 'trespass rule' in WPS

Militant group Pamalakaya (National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organization in the Philippines) on Friday, June 14, staged a protest at the Chinese Consulate in Makati City slamming China's four-month fishing ban in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The group said they condemn the Chinese government's aggressive and illegal actions in the WPS and its Regulations on Administrative Law Enforcement Procedures for Coast Guard Agencies, which was announced on May 15 and will take effect on Saturday, June 15.
This regulation allows the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) to detain those who will illegally enter the waters under its jurisdiction for up to 60 days without trial.
President Marcos, as well as various agencies of the national government, said the new CCG rule is worrisome and "an escalation of the situation" in the West Philippine Sea.
He vowed that the government will do everything to protect its people amid increasing tensions in the disputed waters.
“I do not talk about the operational details so we will leave it to us. But the position we take is that is unacceptable,” Marcos said.
“We will take whatever measures to always protect our citizens,” he added.
Pamalakaya also demanded Beijing to stop its destructive fishing activities and militarization in waters included in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), after the group's records show an 80 percent drop in the income of Filipino fishermen because of China's actions.
A recent research and survey operation conducted by a group of Filipino marine scientists had observed extensive coral bleaching in the Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.
They said the cause of destruction and over exploitation in the WPS is the presence of thousands of Chinese fishing vessels that started to appear in 2013.
They explained that the ships anchored closely together block the sunlight needed by the corals, resulting in their gradual death and destruction.
Members of the Makati City Police were quickly deployed to stop the protesters even before they reached the consulate, prompting them to just conduct their program on the street.
This caused heavy traffic in the area after they blocked two of three lanes exiting Gil Puyat Avenue going to EDSA.