Illegal Chinese fishing activity, Illegal Chinese fishing activity palawan, Illegal Chinese fishing activity scarborough shoal, Illegal Chinese fishing enters philippines, Illegal Chinese fishing balabac
Illegal Chinese fishing activity spotted in western island of Palawan
Chinese poached 14 protected sea turtles using 200-metre (660-foot) net left off the western island of Palawan. All rescued but one sea turtle was already dead when a joint team from the Philippine Navy and the environment department arrived Friday in the remote area, said Major Ferdinand Atos.
Atos, commander of naval forces in the area, said informants had told them that Chinese poachers planted the net a week ago in the coastal district of Balabac.
"They enter the waters of Balabac, riding in a speedboat and they plant their nets, using their contacts among the locals," he told AFP. The 200-metre (660-foot) net left by the poachers was removed and the 14 surviving sea turtles were set free, Atos said.
He said informants had told them that Chinese fishermen used their contacts to enter the area frequently and would bring their catch to Half-Moon Shoal, an outcrop in the Spratly islands claimed by both the Philippines and China.
Chinese fishermen poaching in Philippine waters have become a very big issue in recent months.
The shoal has come under closer scrutiny after China announced that one of its naval frigates had run aground in the island of Shoal.
In April, Philippine authorities tried to arrest Chinese fishermen taking sea turtles and other protected species from Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. They were blocked by Chinese government ships, triggering a continuing standoff between the two claimants.
-Yahoo news
Balabac is uncontested Philippine territory with 14 barangays but chinese fishermen are getting in and out of this local fishing ground. Why is this so?
First, we have a very aggressive invaders. This week, one of China's warships had run aground off the West Philippine Sea. Chinese fishermen are bullying us because they believe that they have the strongest armed forces in Asia. Chinese officials keep on reiterating that the entire China sea is theirs. The anchor of China's state-run television network even claimed Philippines as part of China.
Second, we have a lot of traitors roaming in our land. This leads me to recall the Filipino who betrayed Gregorio del Pilar during his stand in Tirad Pass that's why they failed to defend their territory. This seems to be the reenactment of what our forefathers had experienced before. I don't like that to happen.
As we defend our land we should also not allow such traitors to live without any extensive sanction, or should I say that traitors have no place in the Philippines. We should guard our own resources. It is our duty and responsibility to protect our nation by all means.
FYI! The first Hamilton Class Cutter from the US is named BRP Gregorio del Pilar.