A Philippine senator has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the damage caused by cyanide fishing at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, allegedly by Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen. The Senate should look at the incident because it undermines the Philippines’ marine ecosystem and territorial integrity, Senator Francis N. Tolentino said in Resolution 938, citing reports that the damage had reached P1 billion. “The Philippines, as a party to the Convention of Biological Diversity signed in 1992, is obligated to guard against the unsustainable use of coastal and marine resources which includes the country’s commitment to addressing the threat of cyanide use and its impact on coastal biodiversity,” he said.

Ordoñez, J. V. D. (2024, February 27). Probe of cyanide fishing at Scarborough Shoal sought. BusinessWorld, p. S1/10.