MALACAÑANG on Friday, June 8, dismissed as "inconclusive" a video footage released by media outfit GMA News, showing the Chinese Coast Guard's personnel asking for fish from the Filipino fishermen in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal.
A report by GMA News reporter Jun Veneracion aired Thursday, June 7, said China's Coast Guard has been habitually taking the catch of Filipinos fishing in the waters of Scaraborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground located 124 nautical miles from Zambales.
The GMA News filmed the Chinese nationals asking for fish and sailing away empty-handed, since Filipino fisher folk had no catch at the time they were approached.
In a May 20 mobile phone footage also obtained by GMA News, two people onboard a Chinese Coast guard vessel were seen going aboard a Filipino vessel and later on getting the Filipino fishermen's catch stored in a container.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the news report could not stand as an evidence against China, noting that he did not see "any bullying" when he viewed the video clip.
Roque, nevertheless, said he already asked for authentication from GMA News and a written report from Filipino fishermen involved.
"(I) have asked GMA to authenticate (the report), but (the) video that I saw was inconclusive. (I) didn't actually see any bullying. Anyways, (I) asked fishermen for their written report," the Palace official said in a statement.
Roque said the Philippine government would protest the incident, if the report is proven true.
"If established, it's a ground for protest," he said.
China's reported continuing harassment of Filipino fishermen in the disputed sea came following the claims of opposition lawmaker, Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano, that Beijing still controls Scarborough Shoal.
"When they (Filipinos) fish there, their catch are being inspected. All the best fish are being taken away from them. If you are a fisherman, your time is wasted, your gasoline is wasted, and your effort is wasted," Alejano said in a congressional hearing on May 30.
Alejano also claimed that on May 11, Chinese troops harassed Filipino forces in Ayungin Shoal, which is situated 105 nautical miles from Palawan and well within the 200-mile Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who wants to address sea row with China through non-adversarial approach, admitted Tuesday, June 5, that he was not privy to the Ayungin incident. (SunStar Philippines)