TOLENTINO ADVISES PINOY FISHERMEN TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN FISHING IN WPS AMID CHINA BAN

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino urged Filipino fishermen to be careful when fishing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

This is following China’s implementation of an order threatening to arrest and detain for up to 60 days anyone who enters what they believe is part of their territory, including Bajo de Masinloc which well within the Philippines’ exclusive eçonomic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

Likewise, the Majority Leader stressed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are still encouraging Filipino fishermen to continue fishing and assert their right to fishing grounds in the WPS.

Tolentino shared that he has set a meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to discuss the implications of this new Chinese law.

He said, it would be considered as giving up the traditional fishing grounds of the Philippines if the country would recognize the new Chinese law.

(el Amigo/mnm)