VIA GUNS AND WATER CANNONS | Pinoy fishermen tell how China guards drove them away from Scarborough

From InterAksyon (Apr 22): VIA GUNS AND WATER CANNONS | Pinoy fishermen tell how China guards drove them away from Scarborough

There’s no question for Efren Montehermoso Jr. that the ring-shaped chain of reefs and rocks 240 kilometers off Masinloc, Zambales is part of the Philippines.

The area, known to locals as Bajo de Masinloc, also called Scarborough Shoal, is where Montehermoso and his fellow fishermen often enjoy large catch of pricey blue marlin, red grouper, tuna, and lobster.

Thus on April 13, Montehermoso and his companions were surprised that Chinese authorities on board a ship shooed them off the fish haven, 472 nautical miles from the nearest coast of China.

“Sabi nila sa amin, ‘No fishing! No fishing! Go! Go!,’” says Montehermoso, recalling how he and his companions were barred by angry Chinese coast guards from fishing in the shoal by firing water cannon at them.

Another Filipino fisherman, Mario Tabat, had an experience with Chinese guards more frightening than what Montehermoso and his companions went through.

Last April 3, Tabat thought it would already be his end when Chinese guards on board two rubber boats chased and caught him while he was fishing in Scarborough.

Tabat says the Chinese coat guards pointed a rifle at him. He says all his belongings, except for a container where he placed his medicine for his high blood pressure, were also confiscated by the guards.

“Takot na takot po ako n’on, baka makalabit ‘yong gatilyo [I was really afraid at the time that they might accidentally pull the trigger],” says Tabat.

[Video report]

A third Filipino fisherman, Nilo Arnado, also complained of alleged harassment by Chinese coast guards in Scarborough.

According to Arnado, he was twice harassed by Chinese guards while he and his companions were catching fish in the shoal.

The first incident was last April 11 when a Chinese vessel suddenly appeared and fired water cannon at them to drive them away from the shoal.

The second took place on April 13 when two rubber boats intentionally hit Arnado’s vessel. According to the fisherman, Chinese coast guards also pointed a rifle at him and only stopped harassing him when they noticed that Arnado’s boat had been damaged and that water had started to enter the vessel.

Montehermoso, Tabat, Arnado, and other Filipino fishermen in Scarborough are urging President Benigno Aquino III to take action and stop Chinese guards from harassing and depriving them of their source of livelihood.

“Sana gawan ng Pangulo ito ng paraan na paalisin ‘yong China d’yan, atin naman ‘yan eh [I hope that the President will be able to find a way to drive China out of the area, which belongs to us],” says Arnado.

On Tuesday, Palace said Aquino wanted the Foreign Affairs and National Defense departments to come up with a “diplomatic” response to the alleged incidents between Filipino fishermen and Chinese guards.

“All our courses of action always fall within those tracks and this new incident will not be any different. The last thing you want in a highly-charged environment is to have an incendiary situation that can lead to violence,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it ready to escort fishermen in Scarborough as suggested by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. But PCG said it needed help from the Philippine Navy.

“May kakayahan naman po ang Coast Guard. Pero mas mainam po na gawin itong joint operation [The Coast Guard has the capacity. But it’s better if this will be carried out through a joint operation],” said Lino Torres, PCG sub-station commander based in Masinloc.

[Video report]

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/109270/via-guns-and-water-cannons--pinoy-fishermen-tell-how-china-guards-drove-them-away-from-scarborough