By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Apparently trying to protect the Filipino fishermen, Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has advised them to refrain from sailing to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) alone.
Teodoro gave the advice following another incident of alleged harassment by the Chinese Coast Guard.
“The best advice I can give is huwag magsosolo-solo ang maliliit na fishermen. A lot of times also, we have fishermen rescued at sea because nagsosolo, and ‘magnanimously’ rescued by whomever, so there is strength in numbers,” Teodoro said during the Manila Overseas Press Club forum at the Fairmont Hotel Makati on Tuesday (January 23) night.
It can be recalled that earlier this month the China Coast Guard reportedly drove away fishermen from Zambales who were collecting seashells for food near the south entrance of Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
“We have contingency measures and long-term plans for the West Philippine Sea. However, for incident response, it is the NTF-WPS (National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea) that is the sole authority for answering such queries, particularly in Bajo de Masinloc,” Teodoro said as he condemned the incident.
He stressed that China “has no business in harassing Filipino fishermen.”
(el Amigo/MNM)