The Philippine Navy (PN) said Tuesday, May 28, that it does not honor the unilateral fishing ban imposed by China in the South China Sea which covers parts of the Philippines’ waters.
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), tagged the imposition of the fishing ban as “provocative”.
“The Philippine Navy does not recognize this provocative statement nor will we be deterred in performing our mandate of securing the welfare of Filipino wherever he/she is – on land or on sea,” Trinidad said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier protested the fishing ban which covers areas of South China Sea 12 degrees of the north latitude including Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag or Scarborough Shoal), a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen.
The four-month moratorium runs this last week of May until September 16.
The PN has deployed additional ships to patrol the WPS even before the fishing ban started to ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen.
“Patrols have been increased in the entire WPS to include Bajo de Masinloc and our northern islands,” Trinidad said.
The number of Chinese vessels monitored in the WPS has gone down last week compared to the week prior.
From May 21 to 27, there were 122 Chinese coast guard, navy, and maritime militia vessels spotted in the WPS which is lower compared to the 153 vessels logged from the period May 14 to 20.
Trinidad said the enhanced patrol was made in adherence to President Marcos’ announcement to shift the military’s focus from internal security operation (ISO) to external defense, and the adoption of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro’s brainchild defense strategy, the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).