2 Chinese ships still in Ayungin Shoal

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the prevailing rough weather condition in the West Philippine Sea, two Chinese surveillance ships have remained in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal.

Local fishermen reported yesterday to the satellite office in Puerto Princesa City of Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon the presence of the two Chinese paramilitary vessels near the Philippine-owned territory.

Bito-onon said the fishermen left the area for Palawan after cooking and eating their meals without the Chinese ships seeing them.

“Our local fishermen who sought shelter in Ayungin for them to be able to cook their meals which they could not do in the open sea due to bad weather, spotted the two stationary Chinese surveillance (ships) also in the area,” he said.

“But unlike in the past (when) they chased other boats sailing near the shoal, the presence of the Filipino fishing boat caused no alarm to the Chinese vessels.

“We have yet to get clear visuals of these foreign ships because of bad sea conditions.”

Having just arrived in mainland Palawan from Pag-Asa, Bito-onon again called for the national government to fast-track the planned construction of a safe harbor in Pag-Asa island to boost the local fishing industry.

Last week, several groups of fishermen from Batangas and Iloilo dropped anchor in Pag-Asa but immediately left because they could not find safe mooring for their fishing vessels, he added.

Since May, Chinese ships, including missile-firing frigates, in varying numbers were monitored  near Ayungin, where a contingent of Philippine Marines are deployed aboard a grounded Philippine Navy logistic ship.

In Pag-Asa Island, the seat of Kalayaan town, three unidentified big ships with booms were seen engaged in the destruction of coral reefs five kilometers away.