Fisherfolk on small bancas join volunteers from the Atin Ito Coalition and members of the media as they prepare to depart from Matalbis Port in Masinloc, Zambales, for the second civilian resupply mission to the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA (UPDATE) — The Philippine Coast Guard is encouraging more Filipino fishermen to cast their nets in Rozul Reef, also known as Iroquois Reef, as the agency continuously maintains its presence in the area.
The PCG conducted a maritime patrol in the vicinity of Rozul Reef on Sunday. ABS-CBN News was among the team of journalists who joined the mission.
Rozul Reef is approximately 128 nautical miles or 237 kilometers away from mainland Palawan, well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said that on November 28, they received information that a People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter harassed Filipino fishermen in the area.
A video of the incident, which was taken by one of the fishermen, was also sent to reporters.
“Ipinakita niya [ng mangingisda] sa amin ang isang PLA Navy helicopter with tail number 65 na hinaharass ang ating mga mangingisda noong Nov 27. Ang ginawa ng helicopter ay nag-hover siya ng mababang lipad lamang na 15 feet at ginagawa niya ito sa mga mangingisdang Pilipino,” Tarriela told reporters in a virtual press briefing on Monday.
“We’re thinking they’re doing this as a form of harassment para itaboy ang ating mga mangingisdang Pilipino,” he added.
This prompted the PCG to deploy two of its vessels to check on the affected fishermen: the 97-meter BRP Melchora Aquino and the 44-meter BRP Cape Engaño.
About twenty Filipino fishing boats were monitored in Rozul Reef.
Tarriela said the number is proof of the Philippine government’s intensified maritime operations and efforts to safeguard Filipino fishermen.
“The confidence of the Filipino fishermen has tremendously increased in the past two years dahil alam nila na ang pamahalaan under President Marcos Jr. has been very firm in standing up for our rights in the West Philippine Sea,” the official noted.
“The Chinese will hesitate to harass our fishermen kapag merong PCG or any PH maritime forces sa West Philippine Sea,” he continued.
Two China Coast Guard vessels with bow numbers 5203 and 5205 followed and monitored the PCG throughout its maritime patrol in Rozul Reef.
They also deployed two rigid hull inflatable boats after the PCG launched its own RHIB to transport some of the fishermen from their boats to the BRP Cape Engaño.
Boat captain Arnel Marcellana said their group left Quezon, Palawan on November 25 and arrived in the vicinity of Rozul Reef two days later.
The CCG tried to block the fishermen from reaching the area, according to Marcellana.
“Hindi na rin sila [CCG] masyadong lumalapit kasi malapit na kami sa bahura. Hindi na sila makalapit nang husto,” he told the media onboard the PCG vessel.
Eventually, they were able to reach the reef to catch fish.
“Nakapangisda rin kaso hindi lang masyadong makaporma talaga. Hindi kami makapunta sa malayo. (Kung pupunta sa malayo) Aabangan ka nila, haharangan at paaalisin,” Marcellana said.
“Kung mangharang sila, hindi mo rin sila maintindihan kasi iba ang salita nila. Nagsesenyas lang sila na bumalik. Sabi nila back to Philippines daw,” he added.
Rozul Reef is a known haven for different species of fish and other marine life, making it a perfect fishing spot.
However, catching fish here doesn’t get any easier with the presence of the CCG, according to the fishermen.
“Dito kasi may isda pa po rito. Kaso lang po inaano kami ng China. Halos hindi kami makapangisda dahil tinatakot nila kami. Hnaharang nila kami, tinataboy. Ayaw nila kaming papasukin dito sa area na ito. Ginigipit po nila kami at dinidikitan,” Joy Magbanua shared.
“Hindi raw kami pwedeng pumasok dito kasi sa kanila raw ang area samantala sakop pa ito ng ano [EEZ] natin,” he continued.
Junrey Toledo, for his part, said: “Mahirap po dito mangisda at hinaharangan ng CCG kasi po hindi kami makapangisda sa malayo, dito lang sa loob. Gusto sana namin makakuha ng marami pang isda para may maipakain sa mga pamilya.”
He went on, “Pinipilit lang namin kasi marami talagang isda rito na nahuhuli. Dito sa Rozul, marami talagang isda dito.”
The Filipino fishers also said they have attempted several times to enter Escoda or Sabina Shoal, but would get harassed and driven away by the CCG every time.
“Sumusubok kami doon [Escoda Shoal] kaso marami talaga ang humaharang doon,” Toledo said.
“Sana mapaalis nila ang nanghaharang sa amin dito, ma’am, para makapangisda po kami. Kawawa naman po kaming mga mangingisda… Kulang na lang bungguin po kami,” Magbanua appealed to the government.
Aside from securing the area, the PCG also distributed Christmas food packs to the Filipino fishermen in Rozul Reef.
Tarriela also expressed disappointment after the CCG did not extend any help to the Filipino fishermen, when the latter were already in distress due to bad weather on November 30.
“Sa kasamaang palad, dahil sa masamang panahon, lumubog ang dalawang bangka but all of the crew were rescued by other Filipino fishing boats. So wala namang nasawi o nawala,” Tarriela said.
He went on, “It is very disappointing at nakakalungkot na inilahad ng ating mga mangingisdang Pilipino na despite the presence of the CCG 5205 and nagmo-monitor na PLA Navy… nung mga panahong lumulubog ang 2 bangka, hindi sila nag-offer ng kahit anumang assistance.”
But on December 1, Tarriel said the CCG extended help at around 12 noon when they were about to leave Rozul Reef. He said they received a radio call from Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205 offering their help.
“Again, I don’t know how they want to play the script. Ang paglubog ay nangyari noong November 30, at offer nila sa Coast Guard which is tingin ko they intentionally recorded the offer is December 1, ibig sabihin they want to appear they are extending assistance, but as what the fishermen said, not a single attempt on the part of the Chinese Coast Guard was extended to rescue our fishermen,” he said.
The BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Cape Engaño left Buliluyan Port in Bataraza, Palawan on Saturday noon.
The two vessels reached the vicinity of Escoda Shoal around 7:30 p.m.
Only tiny dots of light coming from the ships in the area can be seen.
While making its way to Rozul Reef, China Coast Guard vessel 5203 sailed dangerously close and cut off BRP Cape Engaño’s path.
Almost two hours later, the same CCG vessel executed another dangerous maneuver against the PCG vessel.
Tarriela said the CCG’s actions, especially done at night, could’ve not only risked collision but also endangered the lives of maritime personnel on both sides.
“They don’t respect the collision regulation. They also think na ang presensya nila rito ay legitimate law enforcement operation. But in reality, in the middle of the night, you’re going to block a particular vessel, this is very dangerous,” Tarriela said. “Maaaring magdulot ito ng banggaan at maging resulta ng isang sakuna.”
“But our PCG commanding officers are always professional and very competent, kaya they are able to prevent these kinds of collision with the CCG,” he added. —With a report from Jeff Caparas, ABS-CBN News
