Philippine fishermen favour strong president to end China's blockade

A fishing boat used to fish in the disputed Scarborough Shoal, in South China Sea is pictured in Masinloc, Zambales in the Philippines April 22, 2015. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

MASINLOC/MANILA, Philippines (Reuters) - A 30-foot trawler named "Marvin" lies beached on a grass bank overlooking the South China Sea, idle since China's coastguard began driving away Philippine fishermen after a fierce standoff four years ago.

Its 10-man crew once made their living off the abundant fish stocks of the disputed Scarborough Shoal some 124 nautical miles away. But since Beijing's patrol boats moved in, the fishermen of the west coast town of Masinloc said they had been forced to do odd jobs ashore, or become motorcycle taxi drivers.