Zambales fishers to keep sailing amid China's threat, but seek protection

Filipino fishermen in Zambales will continue their livelihood by fishing at the Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea despite China’s policy to arrest anyone caught trespassing in its territorial claims beginning June 15. 

“Iniisip po namin ‘yun, yung takot, pero mas nangingibabaw po sa amin kasi, ‘yung hanapbuhay mas importante po kasi sa amin eh,” said Henrelito Empoc, spokesperson of the Bigkis ng Mangingisda Federation, in an interview with SuperRadyo dzBB. 

(While we thought of the dangers, what matters to us now is our livelihood.) 

“Walang karapatan sila na magpatupad ng ganyang batas dahil atin po ang teritoryo na ‘yan. Atin po ang karagatan na ‘yan. Atin po ang West Philippine Sea na nasasakop ng EEZ, exclusive economic zone,” he added. 

(They don’t have any right to impose such a policy because we own that territory. We own that maritime area. We own the West Philippine Sea which is part of the EEZ or the exclusive economic zone.)

The new policy will allow the China Coast Guard to detain trespassers for up to 60 days without trial, the South China Morning Post reported, citing a regulatory document of Beijing. 

The 2016 arbitration ruling upheld the Philippines' exclusive economic zone over China's historical claims in the disputed South China Sea under UNCLOS. But China has never recognized the decision. 

While the fishermen remain unfazed, they sought government protection from the Chinese militia. 

“Bigyan nila ng pansin ang mga maliliit na mangingisda ng West Philippine Sea na sana bigyan naman nila ng proteksyon,” said Empoc. 

(I hope they would give attention to small fishermen in the West Philippine Sea by protecting them.)  

In Joseph Morong’s report in “24 Oras,” the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea assured that the Philippine Coast Guard and other government agencies like the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs are on alert. 

“Kung mayroon mang trespasser dito na hindi sumusunod sa international law (If there are any trespassers who disregard the international law) and keeps on violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, that’s only the Chinese Coast Guard and that’s only the Chinese maritime militia,” said Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the WPS. 

According to the latest monitoring of the PCG in the Bajo de Masinloc on Thursday, two China Coast Guard vessels and five Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted. 

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the Chinese government for comment. —Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA News