By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Following the firm stance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to assert the country’s sovereignty and territorial rights, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Monday (03 June 2024) noted that it has not received any report that China has stopped Filipino fishermen from fishing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid its warning to arrest “trespassers” starting June 15 this year.
In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera maintained that the bureau does not recognize China’s ban in the area.
“Sa ngayon, wala naman tayong natatanggap na ulat na pinipigilan na ang ating mangingisda kaugnay nitong nilabas ng China na unilateral declaration patungkol sa fishing ban,” Briguera aired his observation.
“Malinaw po ang posisyon natin dyan katulad po ng posisyong ng Department of Foreign Affairs noong nilabas nila yung protesta, hindi po natin ito kinikilala. At walang dahilan para po huminto sa pangingisda ang ating mga mangingisda dyan sa WPS,” he declared.
He added that around 300,000 fishermen in the West Philippines Sea provide around 11% of the country’s marine capture fisheries.
Time and again, the President has stressed that he will not yield and so are Filipinos in the face of external threats.
(el Amigo/MNM)
