Taiwanese, foreign fishing boats spotted off Batanes

MANILA, Philippines - Just two months after members of the Philippine Coast Guard fired at a Taiwanese boat in Balintang Channel off Batanes Islands, locals have reported seeing foreign fishing vessels in the area.

A video taken by Ryan Cantor, a local fisherman, purportedly shows a blue fishing vessel conducting activities off Ali Island in Itbayat, Batanes.

"Nagfi-fishing na sila 'yung compressor, 'yung may hose. Bale isa lang po 'yung tao 'don sa itaas, tapos 'yung tatlo yata nasa ilalim," Cantor said, adding that the Taiwanese boat stayed for two days.

Cantor was referring to a dangerous fishing method by which divers breathe from a hose attached to a low pressure air compressor mounted on the boat.

Batanes Governor Vicente Gato confirmed that residents and local authorities still see boats of foreigners and not only of Taiwan's off the coasts.

"Napakarami raw nila, mga 20 fishing boats. 'Yan ang balita pero wala kaming confirmation, pero mga fisherman natin 'yan, mga tauhan namin, naniniwala naman kami," Gato said in a radio interview.

The video was aired on television Thursday night, but Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said maritime officials could not do anything about it.

"Matapos nung Balintang incident, wala na po 'yung tao namin doon," Balilo said in a television interview.

Balilo added that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel MCS-3001 used at the fatal shooting of the Taiwanese fisherman last May 9 is present at the coast for the investigation, and not anymore used to apprehend foreign poachers.

Gato also said that Batanes' shores are unguarded until a newly acquired Coast Guard boat arrives in December from Japan.

"As of now, medyo mahirap pa rin dahil nahihirapan ang ating (Armed Forces) at Coast Guard na magpadala ng barko r'yan lalo na ang pinakamalaking alon sa mundo ay nandiyan sa Balintang Channel," he said. - Camille Diola