00:00 The Philippines has eased the floating barrier of the Chinese Coast Guard in Bajo Demas, Iloc, which is affecting the lives of Filipino fishermen.
00:10 The PCG and BIFAR discovered the resupply mission there.
00:15 The events of that trip were personally witnessed by our colleague Patrick Jesus.
00:21 Here is the center of his live news.
00:26 Angelic, we are with you on the five-day resupply mission of BIFAR and PCG in Bajo Demas, Iloc,
00:35 where many fishermen were given help.
00:38 But in the mission, we discovered something.
00:42 You can see the holes in the entrance of Bajo Demas, Iloc or Bajo Demas, Iloc.
00:50 These are floating barriers that were placed by the Chinese Coast Guard, which are 300 meters long.
00:57 The PCG even obtained the actual location of the people of the Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels.
01:05 This is a serious condemnation by the PCG and BIFAR,
01:08 especially since it is blocking the entrance of Filipino fishermen inside the floating barrier.
01:13 It goes to show that every time that the People's Republic of China would monitor
01:19 that a large number of Filipino fishing vessels will be proceeding to Bajo Demas, Iloc,
01:26 together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources or even with the Philippine Coast Guard,
01:30 they are placing floating barriers so that the Filipino fishermen cannot enter.
01:38 On Tuesday, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' Multi-Mission Offshore Vessel, BRP Dato Bangkaw,
01:47 was placed to carry out a resupply mission or to provide assistance to the government to the fishermen there.
01:54 It was driven by the crews of the PCG and BIFAR, along with some media reporters.
01:59 120 nautical miles away from Bajo Demas, Iloc, from the main land zone,
02:04 it entered the 200 nautical miles of our exclusive economic zone.
02:09 But before it could reach the place on Wednesday morning,
02:12 the China Coast Guard's vessel with the bow number 3105 was spotted.
02:18 We are still 70 nautical miles away from Scarborough Shoal,
02:23 but we can already see the presence of the China Coast Guard.
02:30 The BRP Dato Bangkaw followed the CCG's vessel until it threw a radio challenge, which was answered by the BIFAR.
02:39 Please inform your crew of our following plan. Over.
02:43 This is Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, NMOV 3004.
02:51 You do not interfere with our activities here inside the Philippine waters.
02:56 You are inside the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines.
03:01 Please review your chart and please stay clear of our road. Over.
03:06 The BIFAR's vessel was continuously followed by the CCG's vessel until another vessel followed.
03:12 There were also three more CCG's vessels in the vicinity.
03:16 The Chinese ship made a dangerous maneuver once in front of the BRP Dato Bangkaw.
03:22 At the same time, the BIFAR's Cessna Caravan Plane patrolled the maritime area
03:28 and had a chance to fly above the Chinese ship.
03:32 As it got closer, there were also fishing boats of the Filipinos.
03:37 One of them was passed by and it seems that the CCG's vessel was still blocked.
03:42 The BRP Dato Bangkaw arrived at 8 am and anchored.
03:47 It was only 300 meters near Bajo de Masinloc.
03:51 Many boats of the Filipino fishermen were approaching.
03:55 The BIFAR gave them free diesel and grocery items.
03:59 The BIFAR's vessel will remain here for 3 to 4 days
04:05 to help the Filipino fishermen who are here.
04:10 We can see that many fishermen are approaching the BIFAR's vessel.
04:17 The fishermen are thankful for this.
04:20 This is a big thing for them to stay longer and catch more fish.
04:26 It's a big help for us that our starting cost was reduced
04:32 because they are giving us free diesel.
04:34 We are thankful to them.
04:35 We are happy that we are following you.
04:37 We are excited to come here.
04:39 Because you know that there is help.
04:40 Yes, sir. We know that there is help coming to us.
04:43 So we will follow you.
04:45 Despite the presence of Chinese ships, the resupply mission was successful.
04:50 According to the PCG, this is just a proof that the Philippines
04:54 has lost control of the Scarborough Shoal
04:57 and that the government's support for the fishermen has remained.
05:01 We were successful in breaking the so-called territorial limit
05:08 of the Chinese Coast Guard,
05:12 disallowing government vessels from entering Bajo de Masinloc.
05:18 The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel anchored
05:22 in the distance of only 300 meters away from Bajo de Masinloc.
05:28 So in short, we are that close.
05:32 Angelic, the total 60,000 liters of diesel
05:37 can be distributed to more than 50 motherboats of Filipino fishermen
05:42 in almost a week's resupply mission.
05:45 The government's target is to do this more often
05:48 so that our fishermen can have a chance in Bajo de Masinloc.
05:52 According to the National Security Council,
05:55 they have already sent a letter to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
05:59 about the floating barriers placed by China at the entrance of the Scarborough Shoal.
06:06 Angelic.
06:07 Yes, this trip took several hours to reach our fishermen
06:16 in Bajo de Masinloc for the resupply mission.
06:20 Yes, Angelic, we were able to anchor the 30-meter multi-mission offshore vessel
06:29 of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the BRP Datu Bangkaw.
06:35 Angelic, we came from Port Capitin in Orion, Bataan.
06:42 We left there on Tuesday last week.
06:46 The trip took 18 hours to reach Bajo de Masinloc near Scarborough Shoal.
06:53 Angelic, we were able to anchor the BRP Datu Bangkaw,
06:57 just 300 meters near the shore.
07:01 So, Angelic, that means the Philippine vessels are near Scarborough Shoal
07:06 even if there are Chinese vessels present there.
07:09 And the fishermen are far away from the fishermen around the shoal.
07:14 The only limitation, Angelic, is at the entrance of Bajo de Masinloc
07:22 because there are more presence of China Coast Guard and militia vessels.
07:27 And we saw in the report that they were placed a floating barrier.
07:31 Angelic.
07:32 Okay, so Patrick, these floating barriers you mentioned,
07:35 the length is 3 kilometers.
07:37 So, it means that the trip of our vessels will be longer
07:42 to reach the area of the fishermen who are resupplying.
07:48 Angelic, let me just clarify.
07:53 Scarborough Shoal is a small part of EEZ.
07:57 So, big vessels cannot go there because it might get washed away or hit by a wave.
08:03 Only small boats or service boats can go there.
08:07 So, the BRP Datu Bangkaw, the vessel we used before,
08:11 anchored near Bajo de Masinloc and they are the destination of the fishermen
08:18 so that they can get assistance like diesel and food.
08:23 Okay, thank you very much, Patrick de Jesus.
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