MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed two ships to Rozul Reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Sunday after several Filipino fisherfolk complained of harassment by a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter.
In a press conference at the WPS Transparency Office in Manila on Monday, PCG spokesperson for the WPS, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said PCG vessels 9702 BRP Melchora Aquino and 4411 BRP Cape Engaño were deployed based on the order of PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.
Tarriela said the PCG ships would help ensure the safety and security of Filipino fishers while they exercise “their right to fish freely in Rozul Reef.”
“Despite the potential harassment from the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), their confidence in fishing in the WPS has significantly increased due to the firm stance and commitment of the President not to surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power,” he said.
He said the PCG received video footage and photographs from a fishing boat that returned to Quezon, Palawan, showing the harassment of Filipino fishing vessels by a PLA Navy helicopter in Rozul Reef, also known as Iroquois Reef.
“Ipinakita niya sa amin ang isang PLA Navy helicopter with tail number 65 na hinaharass ang ating mga mangingisda noong November 27. Ang ginawa ng helicopter ay nag-hover siya ng mababang lipad lamang na 15 feet at ginagawa niya ito sa mga mangingisdang Pilipino (He showed us a PLA Navy helicopter with tail number 65 harassing our fisherfolk on Wednesday. What the helicopter did was hover at around 15 feet right above the fishing vessels),” he said.
The reef is 237 kilometers from mainland Palawan and within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
“We’re thinking they’re doing this as a form of harassment para itaboy ang ating mga mangingisdang Pilipino (to drive away Filipino fishers),” he said. (PNA)