“WE can’t immediately cut a floating barrier in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoa) without approval from the national government.”
Thus, said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in a radio interview on Mnday.
PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the Coast Guard was able to document the 300-meter-long barrier that was put up by the Chinese Coast Guard to prevent Filipinos from entering and fishing in the area.
“All of this evidence will be presented to the Task Force West Philippine Sea. We have to be careful na walang magagawang diplomatic misstep ang Philippine Coast Guard,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.
“We have to clear it with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice and more impotantly to seek guidance from the National Security Adviser himself.”
In a separate interview, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista confirmed the Coast Guard cannot, on its own, remove the floating barrier without proper coordination from government agencies.
“Ang kailangan dito yung DFA, mag-file na naman ng another protest sa Chinese government. Mahirap naman na hilahin natin ‘yan, magkaroon ng confrontation kailangan sundin natin ‘yung diplomatic process,” he said.
The Coast Guard earlier said the BRP Datu Bankaw was distributing grocery items and fuel subsidies to around 50 Filipino fishing boats in Bajo de Masinloc when a Chinese Coast Guard vessel CCG-2105 started “a series of 15 radio challenges in an attempt to drive away the BFAR vessel.”
The Chinese Coast Guard told the Philippine vessel that it was in violation of international and Chinese law by being at Bajo de Masinloc, which is off the coast of Zambales.
“It was observed that upon realizing the presence of media personnel aboard the BFAR vessel, the CCG-3105 maintained a safe distance and moved away,” the Coast Guard also said.
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