PUERTO PRINCESA CITY鈥擳he Naval Forces West (Navfor West), the Philippine Navy unit with jurisdiction on Pag-asa Island, had denied there was a case of harassment by a Chinese coast guard ship against a Filipino fisherman from the town of Kalayaan, Palawan province.
鈥淧er verification at Pag-asa detachment, there was no reported incident of harassment of fishermen in the sandbars,鈥� said a statement from Navfor West.
鈥淵our Naval Forces West, especially the security personnel deployed in different KIG features, continue to uphold and protect the safety of our Filipino fishermen,鈥� said the statement.
It was issued after the fisherman, Larry Hugo, 42, reported through social media that he was harassed as he was headed to a fishing ground near Pag-asa on Monday (Jan. 25).
He said the Chinese ship blocked his way, forcing him to turn around for fear of being attacked with water cannon which could cause his boat to sink.
The local government of Kalayaan has declined to comment on Hugo鈥檚 report, saying it has yet to be verified.
Hugo鈥檚 report came just days after China鈥檚 highest legislative body, the National People鈥檚 Congress Standing Committee, gave approval for the Chinese Coast Guard to 鈥渦se any means necessary鈥� to assert China鈥檚 claim of owning nearly the entire South China Sea, including territorial waters of the Philippines.