Malacañang on Monday afternoon confirmed that the Chinese coast guard drove away Filipino fishermen from Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc) earlier in the month.
“The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has verified and confirmed the reported incident involving fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.
However, he said they have yet to verify the number of fishermen involved.
Coloma said the PCG has submitted its report to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday reported that a Chinese coast guard vessel drove away around 80 Filipino fishermen from the shoal using a water cannon. One fisherman was reportedly hurt after he fell off a boat.
READ: Chinese shoo away Filipino fishermen’s boats
Coloma earlier said the government is working hard to upgrade the equipment and facilities of the Philippine Navy and the Coast Guard to allow them to better monitor the Philippine coastline and to protect Filipino fishermen.
Despite such reports, Coloma said the government will continue to pursue its rules-based approach on the territorial disputes with China in the West Philippine Sea.