Fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) called out China’s “rampant plunder and destruction of marine resources” as it “adversely affect more than 600,000 Filipino fisherfolks” during a protest in Makati City on Thursday, Nov. 24.

Pamalakaya along with Anakpawis Party-list mounted a protest at the Chinese Consulate in Makati following the water cannon incident in Ayungin Shoal wherein Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked and water cannoned Filipino troops on a resupply mission.

During the protest, Pamalakaya demanded China to respect the Filipinos exercising freedom of navigation, especially fishing activities in the West Philippine Sea.

“This protest is a reminder that Filipino fishers refuse to bow down to China’s intimidation and harassment in the West Philippine Sea. It is a continued assertion of our territorial and fishing rights no matter how powerful the foreign intruders are,” said Bobby Roldan, Pamalakaya Vice Chair for Luzon.

On the other hand, the fishers’ group said it will also seek international support to compel China to pay for its damages in marine resources and occupation of sea features.

Citing the data of scientist group AGHAM, the fishers’ group said that the country is losing at least P1.3 trillion a year due to destruction of 16,000 hectares of coral reefs caused by reclamation and illegal poaching in the West Philippine Sea.

“China should be compelled to pay for damaged reefs caused by its aggression and plunder, as well as make them pay back rent for the years of illegal occupation of sea features in our exclusive territory. The government’s cowardice and lack of political will to do so won’t stop us Filipino fishers from standing up against China or to any other foreign invaders,” Roldan said.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Dhel Nazario

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