The Office of the Solicitor (OSG) stressed the need for factual verification over allegations that Chinese fishermen have been using cyanide in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“The recent report on the use of cyanide off Scarborough Shoal, serious as it is, needs a careful factual verification,” Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra said on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Recently, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Spokesperson Nazario Briguera disclosed that the agency received reports that Chinese fishermen have been using cyanide to destroy Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal in an apparent bid to discourage Filipinos from fishing in its waters.

“According to the statement of our Filipino fishers, these Chinese [fishers] actually intentionally destroy Bajo de Masinloc to prevent Filipino fishing boats to fish in the area,” said Briguera.

Aside from the Chinese, the spokesperson noted that Vietnamese fishermen were also reportedly using cyanide as well.

“Kasi magkakarugtong po ang ating karagatan, hindi ibig sabihin po niyan na [kapag] may pagkasira sa Bajo de Masinloc ay walang epekto iyan sa ibang bahagi ng ating karagatan (Because our oceans are interconnected, that does not mean that when there is damage in Bajo de Masinloc, itwill not affect other parts of our ocean),” he said.

Guevarra said that “ the OSG has been studying legal options on the WPS completely on its own.”

“But when the time is ripe the OSG will collaborate with other relevant agencies, including the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), the DOJ (Department of Justice), the NSC (National Security Council), and other key members of the national task force on the WPS,” he assured.

“Any legal action must be supported by strong, solid, and competent evidence that can withstand the scrutiny of any international tribunal,” he said.

Thus, he stressed that “all government agencies must work together and support each other to achieve the common goal of protecting the country’s sovereign rights in the WPS.”