Aquino stops ex-Marine officer's Panatag trip
-A A +AFriday, May 18, 2012
MANILA -- Malacañang confirmed Friday that President Benigno Aquino III asked the group of former Marine officer Nicanor Faeldon to cancel plans to sail in the disputed Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal.
Faeldon, along with about 20 people, was set to launch a trip to Panatag to protest China’s apparent aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
“The President indeed did speak to Mr. Faeldon and had asked him to reconsider his plan of going to Panatag Shoal because primarily, it might be construed in a negative way,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
Valte said President Aquino was able to convince Faeldon not to push through with his plans, noting that the Philippines has been addressing the dispute already.
China imposed a temporary fishing ban in the West Philippine Sea that started last May 16 and will end on August 1.
The Philippines also declared its own fishing ban at Scarborough Shoal to let the area recover from environmental damage.
President Aquino earlier said that he will not give up any of the Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea and the government continues to look for a win-win solution to the row with China. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)
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