EVEN amidst the threat of Chinese maritime vessels against Filipino boats sailing in the West Philippine Sea, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has successfully provided assistance and provisions to Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc.
“Ang naibigay po ng ating vessel sa mga mangingisda po ng Bajo de Masinloc 14,000 liters of diesel fuel, 60 liters of motor oil and other provision we provided to 21 commercial fishing boat present in Bajo de Masinloc during their mission,” BFAR spokesman Naz Briguera said in a Saturday news forum in Quezon City.
Briguera said the resupply mission of the BFAR and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarbourough Shoal, is aligned with the vision of the “Bagong Pilipinas” of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ensuring food security.
He added the Bagong Pilipinas campaign of President Marcos also allows Filipino fishermen to freely, sustainably harness resources within Philippine waters.
The BFAR, Briguera said, had successfully conducted its resupply mission to the Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc, contrary to some claims that they were driven away by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) reportedly patrolling the Philippine waters.
“Katulad po ng nabanggit din sa pahayag ng National Security Council, wala pong katotohanan doon sa balitang naitaboy ng mga banyagang barko ng Tsina ang BRP Tamblot sa Bajo de Masinloc na lumaot upang magbigay po ng suporta sa mga mangingisdang kasalukuyang nangingisda sa lugar,” Briguera said.
“Unang-una, hindi po dapat itinataboy ang barko ng Pilipinas sa katubigang legal na pag-aari ng bansa. Sa kabila po ng mga hamon, matagumpay po ang ginawang paglalayag ng BRP Tamblot at ang mga gawain nito ay ayon sa isinasaad ng ating batas at sumasakop na pandaigdigang batas katulad po ng UNCLOS,” he added.
Briguera is referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award, which upheld the Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone, and the WPS.
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