AFP supports PCG’s removal of Chinese-installed floating barriers in Bajo de Masinloc

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is supporting the Philippine Coast Guard's dismantling of Chinese-installed floating barriers within the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea.

AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said the PCG's removal of the 300-meter-long floating barrier that was put up by China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels in the shoal was "legally binding."

"Dapat lang tanggalin 'yon kasi atin 'yon eh (It's only right that we remove it because that [Bajo de Masinloc] is ours)," Aguilar said in a television interview.

Asked about possible response from China, Aguilar replied: "Wala naman tayong pakialam kung anong reaction nila. Basta sa atin, [ay] atin (We don't care about their reaction. What's ours is ours)."

"Basta inassert lang nating 'yong ating karapatan, hindi naman tayo dapat matakot (We only asserted our right, we have nothing to be afraid of)," he added.

The floating barriers in the fishing ground off Scarborough Shoal barred the entry of Filipino fishermen affecting their livelihood and source of income.

PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said the barriers posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law.

"It also hinders the conduct of fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk in [Bajo de Masinloc], which is an integral part of the Philippine national territory," he added.

Meanwhile, the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea is discussing the Philippines' response to the Chinese's "grave violations" of the Philippines' sovereign rights in Scarborough Shoal as well as in Sandy Cay 2, wherein an enormous pile of damaged corals was dumped in the island, just two nautical miles off the Bajo de Masinloc.