WATCH: The Philippine Coast Guard released videos showing the harassment of Filipino fishermen by the China Coast Guard near Escoda Shoal or Sabina Shoal in October.

📹 Arnel Lepalam @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/4PCTtcfW4o

— Bianca Dava 🐱 (@biancadava) November 12, 2024

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard released on Tuesday night videos showing the harassment of Filipino fishermen by the China Coast Guard (CCG) near Escoda or Sabina Shoal last month.

In his written affidavit, fisherman Arnel Lepalam disclosed how the CCG blocked their attempt to reach the shoal in the West Philippine Sea to catch fish.

Lepalam said it was early morning on October 9 when their group saw a CCG vessel 26 miles from Escoda Shoal.

“Nakita rin namin ang China Coast Guard na may numerong 4108 na nagmaniobra nang malapitan sa amin,” Lepalam said.

Around 5:50 a.m., the CCG deployed two speedboats to harass Lepalam’s group.

“Bandang 6:10 ng umaga, tuluyan na kaming dinikitan ng dalawang speedboat ng CCG at pinagbawalang makapasok sa Sabina Shoal,” he said.

“Binangga-bangga ang aming katig at sapilitang itinaboy palayo ng Sabina Shoal,” the fisherman added. “Nakaranas din kami na businahan nang malakas at nagpawangwang ito sa amin.”

According to Lepalam, they decided to transfer to Iroquois Reef to fish from October 10 to 17.

“Bandang 8 ng umaga noong October 17, nagsimula na kaming maglayag patungong Sabina Shoal,” he said in his affidavit.

But even in their second attempt to fish in the shoal, they were again harassed and driven away by the CCG.

Due to the incident, Lepalam’s group was not able to fish in Escoda Shoal.

“Dahil sa takot, napagpasiyahan naming umalis na lang kami roon at bumalik sa Quezon, Palawan,” he said.

The PCG has yet to release a statement on the incident as of this writing.

PH says it's under pressure from China to cede claims in South China Sea