Duterte threatens to use military to dismantle Laguna de Bay fishpens

President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his call to fishpens that have flourished in Laguna de Bay dismantled, even threatening to use the military to do it.

"I do not wish to deprive of your livelihood. But with all those with fishpens across the country, maski saan ka magpunta. You have deprived the man with a paddle and a banca of their source of livelihood and even pagkain," he said during a press conference on Wednesday evening.

Duterte has previously spoken out about fishpens at the lake, instructing Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez to reduce the areas of occupation during his State of the Nation Address in July.

Duterte said fishpens are owned by elected officials, active and retired police and military officers.

"Talagang pinipiga ang mga Pilipino. You make arrangements with the DENR. Limit your area, you can fence it but you have to give the bigger share to so many fisherfolk," he said.

"I am directing the, under ito ng authority, if you cannot do the job by the second week of December, I will order the military to deploy. And this time, no more arrangements," he added.

Duterte said that fishermen are struggling to survive because of these fishpens.

"Kung ayaw niyo liitan sisirain ko. You lose your investments, I don't care. But it will be my direct order and I will assume direct responsibility for it," he added.

Following Duterte's orders, Lopez had previously said she plans to convert the lake into an eco-tourism zone.

"We are going a step further, we're gonna convert the whole Laguna Lake into a magnificent eco-tourism zone, which is special like no other," she said. --JST,GMA News