By Junex Doronio
NOTHING IS PERMANENT BUT CHANGE, an age-old adage that seemingly comes true when retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio who once led the “anti-Marcos” 1Sambayan opposition coalition in 2022 is now supporting President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr’s move to strengthen the country’s alliances with other states amid China’s moves in the West Philippine Sea.
This developed as Carpio said on Wednesday that China cannot dictate who can fish inside Scarborough Shoal in reaction to reports that the Chinese Coast Guard installed floating barriers near the disputed shoal to drive away Filipino fishermen.
The Chinese floating barriers had already been removed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday night, September 25, upon the marching order of President Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.
“We had a right. Tama ang pagtanggal ng barrier kasi sabi sa arbitral tribunal, in the award, na common fishing ground ‘yung lagoon and territorial sea ng Scarborough Shoal. Common fishing ground ng Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese fishermen,” Carpio said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.
On Wednesday, the PCG also encouraged Filipino fishermen to keep fishing at Scarborough Shoal and other sites in the South China Sea, promising to intensify patrols there despite the daunting presence of some bigger Chinese vessels.
“Kung common fishing ground ng tatlong bansa, not a single country can stop others from fishing there. Walang karapatan ang China na sila lang sa sarili nila magdecide na sila lang ang pwedeng mangisda doon sa loob ng lagoon,” Carpio stressed.
He pointed out that the arbitral tribunal did not rule on who has sovereignty of Scarborough Shoal “kasi that question is beyond the jurisdiction of the tribunal.” (ai/mnm)