ALLEGED CYANIDE USE IN SCARBOROUGH SHOAL

Filipino Fishermens on West Philippine Sea (Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net)

A strong legal action will be taken against the Chinese fishermen, according to the Philippines Department of Justice (DOJ), for allegedly using cyanide in Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc).

To preserve the West Philippine Sea, Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said that the government would support collecting evidence and start studying the legal remedies.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources spokesperson Nazario Briguera, in a news forum, quoting reports of Filipino fishermen, alleged the use of cyanide by Chinese fishermen to “prevent Filipino fishing boats from fishing in the area and intentionally destroy Bajo de Masinloc.”

However, the allegations were “totally baseless and sheer fabrication,” as the Chinese Embassy in Manila told.

In a previous statement, the Chinese Embassy also expressed complaints, claiming that the Philippines was causing disturbances when it conducted a joint flyover of the West Philippine Sea with the United States as part of maritime activities initiated in November.

According to the DOJ, Remulla not only asked for help from Filipino marine scientists but also sought the suggestions of law experts internationally for legal strategies.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año responded to China’s concern that the activities conducted in Philippine Territory were “well within our rights as a sovereign nation.”

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer 

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