President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. on Friday, Sept. 29, said that the country is not stirring trouble for taking down the 300-meter-long floating barrier placed by the China Coast Guard at Bajo de Masinloc.
In an interview with reporters, Marcos asserted the removal was ordered to protect the country’s maritime territory.
“Basta’t sinasabi ko, umiiwas tayo sa gulo. Umiiwas tayo sa mga maiinit na salita. Ngunit, matibay ang ating pagdepensa sa terriroyo ng Pilipinas,” he said.
Marcos underscored that the move also aims to protect the rights of the hundreds of Filipino fisherfolk, who have been venturing the seas of Bajo de Masinloc for their food and livelihood over the past years.
He cited that Filipino fishermen were able to catch 164,000 tons of fish after the 300-meter-long floating barrier was successfully removed.
“Isang araw pa lang iyon. Ayun ang nawawala sa ating fisherman kaya hindi naman maari na lagyan ng barrier na gano’n at maliwanag naman na nasa loob ng Pilipinas iyan,” the President said.
“Basta’t hindi tayo naghahanap ng gulo. Basta’t gagawin natin, patuloy natin ipagtatanggol ang Pilipinas, ang maritime territory ng Pilipinas,” he furthered.
Last Sept. 26, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) removed the ball-buoy barrier at the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal in compliance with the instruction of Marcos and National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) Secretary Eduardo Año.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry then reacted and told the country to "not provoke and cause trouble.”
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert 'Gibo' first stood firm that it is not the country but China that is stirring trouble in the West Philippine Sea.
Several nations including the European Union (EU) and the United States, had expressed concern over China’s activities on Scarborough Shoal, believing that these actions are creating tension in the South China Sea.
