Written by : JAIME PILAPIL REPORTER
Although the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal is not a tourist destination and only fishermen have ventured into the area, Malacañang on Sunday imposed a travel ban to “preserve the ecosystem.”
“The government has decided to prohibit fishing in Bajo de Masinloc and within one nautical mile of Bajo de Masinloc for the sole purpose of making sure that we preserve the ecosystem. Let’s allow the ecosystem to flourish first. It will do us no good if we will go there and, again, to disturb the ecosystem in Bajo de Masinloc,” Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda told a radio interview over state-owned dzRB.
The decision to ban fishing at the disputed shoal came after China reportedly ordered Chinese fishermen not to go to the area in a bid to defuse the tension there.
On Thursday, President Benigno Aquino 3rd stopped former Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon and his group from sailing to the Panatag Shoal. Faeldon had planned to stage a protest rally there.
“I think we can show our patriotism by supporting the position of our government and that would be a sufficient expression of support,” Lacierda said.
The Palace official denied reports that China would be sending a modern warship to Subic after the United States sent its submarine to the country last week.
“We have no information on that. I have confirmed that with the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and they don’t have that kind of information,” he said.
Meanwhile, former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte said that the Philippines should do what is right and continue to find ways to resolve the dispute in a peaceful manner.
“What China is trying to do is might is right, so we do the opposite,” he told a television program.
He said that doing what is right is the only way for the Philippines to gain the respect of other countries.
Almonte said that President Aquino is treading the right path in insisting that the issue be resolved in a civilized way through diplomatic channels and international court of justice.
“Nobody can build this nation except ourselves, nobody can protect this nation except ourselves. As we do it today, we have to be patient and we should not be intimidated by anybody,” he said.
The dispute over Panatag Shoal is now on its sixth week but Manila and Beijing are still trying to resolve the impasse.
The Philippines has urged China to bring the issue before the United National Convention on the Laws of the Seas, but the Chinese government is against the proposal.
WITH A REPORT FROM WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
Although the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal is not a tourist destination and only fishermen have ventured into the area, Malacañang on Sunday imposed a travel ban to “preserve the ecosystem.”
“The government has decided to prohibit fishing in Bajo de Masinloc and within one nautical mile of Bajo de Masinloc for the sole purpose of making sure that we preserve the ecosystem. Let’s allow the ecosystem to flourish first. It will do us no good if we will go there and, again, to disturb the ecosystem in Bajo de Masinloc,” Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda told a radio interview over state-owned dzRB.
The decision to ban fishing at the disputed shoal came after China reportedly ordered Chinese fishermen not to go to the area in a bid to defuse the tension there.
On Thursday, President Benigno Aquino 3rd stopped former Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon and his group from sailing to the Panatag Shoal. Faeldon had planned to stage a protest rally there.
“I think we can show our patriotism by supporting the position of our government and that would be a sufficient expression of support,” Lacierda said.
The Palace official denied reports that China would be sending a modern warship to Subic after the United States sent its submarine to the country last week.
“We have no information on that. I have confirmed that with the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and they don’t have that kind of information,” he said.
Meanwhile, former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte said that the Philippines should do what is right and continue to find ways to resolve the dispute in a peaceful manner.
“What China is trying to do is might is right, so we do the opposite,” he told a television program.
He said that doing what is right is the only way for the Philippines to gain the respect of other countries.
Almonte said that President Aquino is treading the right path in insisting that the issue be resolved in a civilized way through diplomatic channels and international court of justice.
“Nobody can build this nation except ourselves, nobody can protect this nation except ourselves. As we do it today, we have to be patient and we should not be intimidated by anybody,” he said.
The dispute over Panatag Shoal is now on its sixth week but Manila and Beijing are still trying to resolve the impasse.
The Philippines has urged China to bring the issue before the United National Convention on the Laws of the Seas, but the Chinese government is against the proposal.
WITH A REPORT FROM WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
