DAVAO CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard will use the result of a marine resources assessment conducted by a scientific on Pag-asa Island as evidence in the Justice Department’s case against China for environmental destruction and degradation, said Commodore Jay Tarriela of the PCG’s West Philippine Sea transparency Office.
Speaking at a news forum on Saturday, Tarriela said thet Dr. Jonathan Anticamara;s findings have already been presented to the National Task Force on West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS).
The PCG, in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the University of Philippines, will formally submit the research findings to the NTF-WPS to support the case buildup against China.
Tarriela emphasized that the scientific study will serve as the crucial evidence in holding China accountable for its environmental violations in the West Philippines Sea.
The Department of Justice is a member of the interagency task force. Therefore, it’s likely that Dr. Anticamara’s findings will be shared with the Department of Justice as well.
Tarriela mentioned, these findings can be used to support the DOJ’s case against the People’s Republic of China for environmental destruction and degradation in the West Philippine Sea.
Dr. Jonathan Anticamara and his team from the University of the Philippines (UP) Institute of Biology conducted a comprehensive marine resource assessment in Pag-asa Cays 1, 2, and 3, providing critical scientific evidence of the destruction of marine resources within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
According to Tarriela, China’s actions have caused significant environmental destruction and alteration of sea features in the area, with a disproportionate number of Chinese vessels operating in the region.
The operation of these vessels has resulted in massive damage to coral reefs. Furthermore, Tarriela emphasized that China has the expertise and capability to undertake large-scale reclamation activities in the South China Sea, which has exacerbated the environmental damage.
