Solon says RP losing Scarborough Shoal to China

The Philippines is losing Scarborough Shoal to China, Rep. Roilo Golez (LAMP, Parañaque) said yesterday.

"We have already lost Mischief Reef (in the Spratlys) to them (Chinese). Now we are losing Scarborough Shoal," Golez told the weekly Friday Forum at the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City.

The Parañaque lawmaker has taken upon himself to call the nation's attention every now and then to what he describes as Chinese aggression in the Spratlys near Palawan and other disputed islets, including Scarborough Shoal, which is off Zambales and Pangasinan.

Quoting intelligence information he received from his sources, Golez said four to five Chinese fishing boats have been anchored in the shoal for weeks now.

"That is how they started in Mischief Reef. First, they stationed fishing boats. Then followed military elements and concrete structures purportedly intended to protect their fishermen," he said.

He said the same pattern of events is now taking place 150 miles off Zambales and Pangasinan.

He added that Scarborough Shoal is nearer to Metro Manila than the Spratlys.

In the past, the Philippine Navy chased away Chinese fishing boats sailing near the shoal. A Navy vessel even accidentally crashed into a Chinese boat, prompting China to demand compensation for its fishermen.

Recently, China warned the Philippines against driving away its fishermen from the disputed shoal.

Golez also accused China of trying to destroy Philippine society and at the same time making money by exporting illegal drugs to the Philippines.

He said most of the shabu finding its way into the local market comes from southern China.

He said apparently, this is also what the Chinese are doing to the Japanese.

He added that Japanese officials have been quoted in one international magazine that China and North Korea are the sources of illegal drugs being smuggled into their country.