Pinoy fishermen asked ‘to proceed with care’ in Scarborough

The government is not preventing Filipino fishermen from returning to the disputed Scarborough Shoal but instead cautioning them to proceed with care.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said “there are no statements preventing them” from fishing in the disputed sea.

“The fishermen are not prevented but they are cautioned to proceed with care,” Abella told reporters in a press briefing.

READ: Filipino fishermen told: Exercise caution in Scarborough Shoal

He reiterated that the government would issue a statement after Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. returns from the 11th Asia-Europe Leaders Meeting (Asem) in Mongolia.

“We are not keeping cards close to our chest. We are really thinking through the right response. The initial statement should be sometime after the DFA Secretary comes back from Mongolia,” he said.

The Palace official earlier said the government would exercise restraint and sobriety while studying the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands.

READ: Philippines wins arbitration case vs. China over South China Sea

“The ruling was welcome, and the government will proceed with sobriety and restraint,” Abella said. RAM/rga