PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. on Saturday, June 9, said he was scheduled to meet Filipino fishermen who were reportedly harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal.
In a bid to find out the truth with regard to the alleged harassment of Filipino fisher folk in the disputed sea, Roque said his meeting with them may be held on Monday, June 11.
"[I] will meet with fisherfolks on Monday, possibly," the Palace official said in a text message to SunStar.
"I will be the one [to meet them] to find out [the truth]," he added.
This developed after news outfit GMA News reported Thursday, June 7, that it has become a habit of the Chinese Coast Guard to take the catch of Filipinos fishing in Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground that lies 124 nautical miles from Zambales and within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
In a report by GMA News reporter Jun Veneracion, personnel of the Chinese Coast Guard were caught in the act of asking Filipino fishermen for some fish.
Veneracion also obtained a mobile phone footage dated May 20, showing two members of the Chinese Coast Guard going aboard a Filipino vessel and later on taking the catch of Filipino fishermen stored in a container.
On Friday, June 8, Roque believed that there was no "bullying" on the part of the China's Coast Guard. He, however, stressed that the Philippine government would file a protest against Beijing, if the reported harassment is proven true.
Roque already sought the authentication of the GMA News report and the testimonies of the 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. If established, it's a ground for protest," he said Friday.
The incident came nearly a month after Chinese troops purportedly harassed Filipino soldiers in Ayungin Shoal.
On May 11, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel allegedly harassed a Philippine Navy ship carrying provisions for Filipino soldiers stationed on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, which is located 105 nautical miles from Palawan and well within the country's 200-mile EEZ. (SunStar Philippines)