May 11, 2021
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has asserted that Filipinos have the right to fish in the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
“Huwag tayong matakot na pumunta do’n. Ang Scarborough Shoal is a traditional fishing ground natin. Noon pa. Kaya kailangan pumunta po tayo do’n at kailangan tayong mangisda especially ‘yong mga taga-Region 3 kasi sakop nila ‘yan,” said BFAR director Eduardo Gongona in an interview with Teleradyo on Monday.
(Let’s not be afraid to go there. Scarborough Shoal is our traditional fishing ground. Even before. So we have to go there and we have to fish especially those from Region 3 because they cover that)
BusinessWorld
May 11, 2021 | 7:51 pm
PHILIPPINE STAR/ JOVEN CAGANDE
THE PHILIPPINES did not lose new territories to China during the term of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, pursuant to an agreement between the two to keep the status quo, according to the presidential palace.
China did not reclaim islands, reefs and other sea features under Mr. Duterteâs leadership, his spokesperson Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing on Tuesday.
The Philippines did lose Scarborough Shoal to China under his predecessor Benigno S.C. Aquino III, he added.
âWhatâs important is the deal between the President and President Xi for a status quo did not change,â Mr. Roque said in Filipino. âThere were no new reclamations and they did not get new territories and we didnât lose any.â
Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario (DFA file photo)
In a statement, Del Rosario said such a debate, which Roque is “endeavoring to promote”, is not the best way to spend the time of Filipinos since “it will only manifest to the world that we are not united and we do not know what we are doing”.
The former DFA secretary, who was one of the architects of the Arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, even questioned Roque’s credibility as a spokesperson for President Duterte.
“We are made to understand, however, that Secretary Roque’s own department is undergoing serious credibility challenges. The question arises – Is the problem with the marketer, or is it the product, or both?” he said.