By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Mincing no words, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela on Saturday (11 May 2024) lambasted China for allegedly destroying the marine environment in Sabina Shoal near Palawan, saying it’s also a “crime against humanity.”
This developed as Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said it would take around 300 years for a damaged coral to naturally recover.
“Sino ba among countries in the South China Sea ang meron talagang walang pakundangang pagsira ng marine environment? It’s only China. Sino lang ba ang puwede nating ituro lahat? China lang,” Tarriela said at the Saturday News Forum held at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
He divulged that the PCG has discovered crushed corals allegedly dumped by Chinese ships in Sabina Shoal in a supposed new reclamation attempt.
Sabina Shoal is also called Escoda Shoal.
Tarriela said the PCG earlier deployed the BRP Teresa Magbanua in Sabina or Escoda Shoal following a report on April 15 of the presence of Chinese maritime militia ships in the area, which is just 75 nautical miles or around 120 kilometers off the coast of the main Palawan island.
But after 26 days of monitoring, Tarriela said it was discovered that the physical characteristics of the low-tide elevation surrounding Sabina Shoal are similar to those of the cays in Pag-asa Island, which the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology described as in “degraded states.”
“Malulungkot ka sa naging itsura na ngayon ng Sabina Shoal. If you’re going to talk to fishermen in Palawan, alam nila kung gaano kayamang pangisdaan dati ang Sabina Shoal,” Tarriela quipped.
(el Amigo/MNM)
