NSC probes alleged cyanide fishing at Bajo de Masinloc

Pia Gutierez

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/Filipino-fishermen.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Filipino fishermen on a boat departs from a fishing village to go on a fishing expedition in the town of Masinloc, Zambales province, Dec. 12, 2022. China and the Philippines are engaged in a territorial dispute over the sovereignty of several islands and atolls in the South China Sea. Francis R. Malasig, EPA-EFE </div>MANILA (UPDATED) — The National Security Council (NSC) said it was looking into a report that Chinese fishermen were allegedly using cyanide to destroy the resource-rich Bajo de Masinloc and prevent Filipinos from fishing in the area.   NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said that while the council was alarmed over the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources&#x27; (BFAR) report, there was a need to validate the claims further.   &quot;Ang sabi namin sa BFAR, complete the documentation that you have taken, &#x27;yung mga ebidensya at affidavits na makukuha natin, submit your post-mission reports to the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea. We will investigate this report,&quot; Malaya said.<ul><li><a data-cke-saved-href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/17/china-using-cyanide-to-intentionally-destroy-bajo-de-masinloc-bfar-1456" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/17/china-using-cyanide-to-intentionally-destroy-bajo-de-masinloc-bfar-1456">China using cyanide to ‘intentionally destroy’ Bajo de Masinloc: BFAR</a></li></ul><div> </div>Once validated, Malaya said they would forward the report to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General, which are preparing a case against China for environmental degradation.   &quot;The challenge dito is to prove the responsibility for the coral degradation and the impact to the environment is coming from these specific people,&quot; he said. &quot;Kailangan nating ikonek eh. We have to have solid evidence to prove para kapag nagsampa na tayo ng kaso, hindi na tayo mahihirapan to prove to the court. Kasi alam mo naman, when we go to court, we have to have solid evidence to back your claim.&quot;   BFAR Chief Information Officer Nazario Briguera recently claimed that as a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China was committing a violation with its deliberate destruction of the Bajo de Masinloc, which &quot;undermines the sustainability not just of our waters but of the whole world.&quot;Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines denied the allegations, calling them &quot;baseless and sheer fabrication&quot;.&quot;The allegation against Chinese fisherman is totally baseless and sheer fabrication. China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the protection of ecological environment and conservation of fishery resources, and have taken resolute measures to crack down on any illegal fishing activities,&quot; the Embassy said.

The National Security Council said it was looking into a report that Chinese fishermen were using cyanide to destroy the resource-rich shoal.

The National Security Council said it was looking into a report that Chinese fishermen were using cyanide to destroy the resource-rich shoal.

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NSC probes alleged cyanide fishing at Bajo de Masinloc

NSC probes alleged cyanide fishing at Bajo de Masinloc

Pia Gutierez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 19, 2024 03:53 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 19, 2024 08:42 PM PHT

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