West Philippine Sea: PH fishers tell lawmakers the horror stories are true

MASINLOC, Zambales-Notwithstanding the heat, hundreds of fishermen and their families lined up by the entrance of the function room of the Masinloc Municipal Hall on the third floor, standing or sitting by the stairs, filling its lobby and doorway.

Last May 24, at least 289 individuals, fishermen and their families from the municipalities of Masinloc and Sta. Cruz in Zambales province, filled the room though only five were given the chance to join the public consultation at a joint hearing by the House committee on national defense and security and special committee on the West Philippine Sea.

They aired their grievances about how China’s aggression inside Philippine exclusive economic zone had changed their lives.

Among the estimated 200 people outside were 43-year-old Bobby Basarte and 54-year-old Beth Sarmiento, both Masinloc fishermen, who sat on plastic chairs in the lobby, fanning themselves as they waited to enter the room where legislators and media were listening to their town mates’ stories.

Like the rest of the fisherfolk, they wanted to tell stories about increased aggression by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) in Scarborough Shoal, inside Philippine EEZ, had disrupted or entirely halted their livelihood, which is to fish in what they knew all their lives as traditional fishing ground for Filipinos.

The first and last encounter

Although initially hesitant, Basarte eventually agreed to be interviewed but not to show his face in front of a camera. Unlike the other fishermen, who shared repeated encounters with the CCG at the hearing, Basarte said he had only faced the Chinese once while he and a crew were on a deep-sea fishing vessel in Panatag Shoal in 2015.

“We haven’t been to Scarborough since it happened. Maybe it’s because of the fear. Fear that it might happen again,” Basarte told INQUIRER.net in the interview.

“Our experience there was not grave. They (CCG) did not use water cannons against us but went on our vessel and took all our good catch,” he said.

“At that time, they collected two coolers containing fish, or about 80 kilograms,” he continued, speaking in Filipino.

Based on his description, three armed CCG personnel went on their vessel. The Chinese, he said, spoke to them in English or used hand signals to communicate. Although none of the three pointed guns to intimidate them, Basarte explained that the others were still afraid to do anything that would provoke the intruders.

Abundant resources

Basarte said he would consider returning only if CCG left Panatag Shoal, recounting the days when he could freely fish in the area and catch 20 kilograms of fish in just an hour.

But now that most of the Zambales fishermen are only fishing outside the area, or near the Masinloc shore, Basarte said the catch has sharply declined to less than 10 kilograms in two to three hours at sea.

Sarmiento, a resident who fishes near the Masinloc shore for her own consumption, recalled the days when catch from Panatag Shoal had improved fisherfolk’s lives in the town.

“Before I remember, none of us suffered because Masinloc fishermen were allowed to go to Scarborough. After they go there, they come back here like a millionaire because of the fish abundance in the area,” Sarmiento said in Filipino.

“But things changed after fear took over, and none of them could go back. I hope other fishermen can return to Scarborough, where most of us rely on the resources there,” she added.

Other stories

Inside the function room, Zambales fisherfolk also shared with lawmakers during the three-hour hearing their personal stories about being harassed and bullied by CCG . Iloilo Rep. Raul “Boboy” Tupas, defense committee vice chair, gave each witness three to five minutes to narrate their experiences.

READ: Zambales fishers lament China Coast Guard’s bullying in Scarborough

Nolly Delos Santos, a fisherman from Sta. Cruz, turned emotional as he lamented that lawmakers pay attention to them only during elections, and have “forgotten about them” now that the fisherfolk needed help.

De los Santos said he could no longer support his children’s education and providing for his family now that Filipino fishermen are prevented from going to Bajo de Masinloc.

Prior to the hearing, Zambales Rep. Doris Maniquiz disclosed that Masinloc and Sta. Cruz fisherfolk suffered a series of water cannon attacks by the CCG about two weeks ago and last February, respectively.

Bigger picture

Leonardo Cuaresma, member of New Masinloc Fishermen Association and designated spokesperson for all fisherfolk in Zambales, corroborated reports about the attacks, which he said had also already deprived fishermen from nearby provinces Pangasinan and Bataan of their livelihood.

Although he said the Zambales fisherfolk were happy that lawmakers listened to their pleas, Cuaresma said in a separate interview that the fisherfolk needed to “show them the bigger picture of what’s happening here.”

READ: Lawmakers hear fishers over maritime dispute

CCG’s latest attack occurred last April 30. Reports said two Philippine vessels were blasted with water cannons while on a mission to Scarborough Shoal.

A PCG report said the CCG water canon attack used “very fatal” pressure and marked China’s increased aggression against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Two weeks later, media reports said China is adopting new policy to detain without trial people of other nationalities “illegally crossing borders” in areas inside its now fictional 10-dash line that includes Philippine EEZ. The policy enforcement is to start on June 15.

The new Chinese rule followed the launch of a civilian-led convoy of Filipino civilians, called Atin Ito (This is Ours), that set sail and came close to Scarborough Shoal last May 16.