MANILA - Filipino fishermen are being driven away from the Scarborough Shoal by China, according to a short documentary released by opposition senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares.
In a Facebook video, two Filipino fishermen detailed how the Chinese Coast Guard would seize their catch and drive them away from the area.
"At yung inagawan ng huli ng Chinese Coast Guard, kinuha yung kanilang mga huling isda at pinaalis sila dun sa tabi ng Scarborough," one of the fishermen said.
"Bukod sa may nakaharang na sa bunganga nung lagoon, meron pang 8 barkong nakaharang na nagtataboy dito sa malayo na sa lagoon."
Another fisherman said the Chinese destroyed their small boats.
“Ang kita po naming dati nasa 20 tons, ngayon nasa 2 tons na lang po. Gawa nga po ng China kasi pinuputol po nila yung balsa namin," he said.
"May bangka din po na inano nila ng water gun, nasira po, lumubog."
The fishermen said they have a lower income now that many of them fish on the same area.
"Agaw-agawan na lang dun sa kakaunting nahuhuli dito sa baybayin," one fisherman said.
"Napakalaki po ng epekto nun kasi gawa nga po na dati makakapag-ulam kami ng masarap ngayon po hirap na. Makapag-ulam man kami, sapilitan. Wala na po kaming maibigay na pamasahe, naglalakad na lang yung mga bata 2 to 3 kilometers," another added.
Filipino fishermen and former Philippine officials have filed a communication against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
"It adversely affects and injures not only myriad groups of vulnerable fishermen, including 320,000 Filipino fishermen, but also present and future generations of people across nations," the group said in a statement.