Backed by international law experts, Zambales fishermen on Friday appealed to the United Nations to remind China to respect their rights to fish near the Scarborough Shoal, which is considered to be part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but which China is claiming to be its territory. The fishermen invoked an international arbitration ruling favoring Philippine territorial claims to also seek an investigation of violations of their rights allegedly by Chinese patrols controlling the shoal. Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque, who serves as legal counsel of the fishermen, gathered at least 60 of them at the town hall here to finalize the new appeal he later transmitted by e-mail to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR).

Macatuno, A. (2016, August 13). PH fishers seek UN help vs China abuses in Scarborough. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A8.