MANILA, Philippines—Three of the eight fishing vessels in Scarborough shoal that were discovered conducting illegal fishing and poaching activities are believed to have left the area.
“As of this afternoon, the reported number of Chinese fishing vessels left in Scarborough shoal is only five,” Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Jessie Dellosa said in an ambush interview Friday.
“As for the other three, we don’t know, they might have left already,” Dellosa said.
Dellosa said that they could not prevent the fishing vessels from leaving because they were some distance away from the Philippines’ boats and could not monitor their movements.
“More or less, we cannot monitor what is happening inside the Scarborough shoal lagoon itself,” Dellosa said.
The standoff between China and the Philippines began when several Chinese fishing vessels were found poaching for corals, live sharks, and giant clams in the disputed territory.
Dellosa could not say if the vessels that left were carrying the gathered marine resources.
He said that a Coast Guard ship, BRP Pampanga, was still in the area.
Meanwhile, Dellosa said that the BRP Gregorio del Pilar would only return should in the disputed area if there would be a confrontation.
“But as of now it’s just a standoff,” he said.
Another Philippine Navy ship, a Peacock vessel, was on standby 14 kilometers away from the shoal, said Dellosa. With Frances Mangosing