MASINLOC, Zambales — Zambales fisherfolk shared their personal experiences of harassment and bullying by the China Coast Guard (CCG) in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
During a public consultation and a joint hearing of the House committees on national defense and security, and West Philippine Sea, fishermen from the municipalities of Masinloc and Sta. Cruz turned emotional as they lamented how CCG’s presence in the area adversely affected their livelihood.
“Noon marami, sagana, kayang buhayin ang pamilya, kaya kong buhayin ang mga anak ko,” said Nolly Delos Santos, a fisher from Sta. Cruz, during the hearing held at the Masinloc Municipal Hall here.
(Before, there were a lot of fish, and we had many catches, enough to sustain our families; I can provide for my children.)
READ: ‘Even Zambales fishermen hit by China water cannon assault’
Nolly Delos Santos, a fisherfolk from Sta. Cruz town, turns emotional as he appeals for help to let Zambales fishers fish freely in the West Philippine Sea during a House public hearing at the Masinloc Municipal Hall on Friday, May 24, 2024. (Photo screengrab from House of Representatives livestream)
“Tulungan ninyo kami, ‘di naman po kami tamad na mangingisda; masipag po kami. Ang ayuda parang band-aid lang ‘yan, kinabukasan wala na. P5000? P2000? Kung tutuusin kaming mangingisda ‘di namin kailangan ‘yan kung malaya kaming mangingisda sa aming bayan. Malayang pangingisda lang po kailangan namin,” delos Santos stressed.
(Please help us, we are not lazy fishermen; we are hardworking. The aid given to us is just like a band-aid, it’s gone the next day. P5000? P2000? Actually, us fishermen don’t need that if we can fish freely in our town. All we need is for us to have the freedom to fish.)
Leonardo Cuaresma, a member of the New Masinloc Fishermen Association and designated spokesperson for all fisherfolk in Zambales, confirmed that CCG fires water cannon at Filipino fishing boats in Scarborough Shoal, which also known as Panatag Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc.
“Mayroon pong nakakaranas ng water cannon, ‘yung ilang kababayan mula Sta. Cruz at mula sa bayan po ng Subic. Na-water cannon sila nung 2014,” he recalled.
(Some experienced being attacked with water cannon, those in Sta. Cruz and from the town of Subic. They were attacked with water cannon in 2014.)
“At nung 2018, meron tayo kababayan na mangingisda mula po sa Subic na binangga ‘yung likuran kanilang bangka, marami kababayan sa Subic na saksi,” he also said.
(And in 2018, we had a fellow fisherman from Subic whose boat was hit, many of our countrymen witnessed it.)
Leonardo Cuaresma, a member of the New Masinloc Fishermen Association and designated spokesperson for all fisherfolk in Zambales, laments their experience of harassment and bullying by the China Coast Guard (CCG) in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea during a House public hearing at the Masinloc Municipal Hall on Friday, May 24, 2024. (Photo screengrab from House of Representatives livestream)
He likewise said that even the livelihood of fisherfolk from nearby provinces Pangasinan and Bataan were affected by China’s intimidation in the West Philippine Sea.
“Hinaharang ‘yung ating mangingisda, pinipigilang mangisda sa loob ng lagoon. Kinukuha ‘yung magagandang huli, ‘yung matitira na lang ang naiuuwi nila,” he added.
(Our fishermen are blocked, prevented from fishing inside the lagoon. The good catch are taken and the leftovers are the only ones brought home by our fishermen.)
READ: ‘Threatened with guns’: Panatag fisher recounts encounter with China
On Thursday evening, Zambales 2nd District Rep. Doris Maniquiz disclosed that Masinloc and Sta. Cruz fisherfolk experienced a series of water cannon attacks by the CCG last week and in February, respectively.
Based on her description, the vessels attacked by the CCG were used for deep-sea fishing with 25 to 35 fishermen and crew aboard.
The lawmaker also revealed that the livelihood of around 1,400 fishermen – 1,000 from Masinloc and 400 from Sta. Cruz – are being affected by the CCG’s presence in the West Philippine Sea.
INQUIRER.net again sought the side of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) regarding the matter, but it has yet to give its reply as of posting time.
On April 30, the CCG once again fired water cannons at two Philippine vessels conducting a mission in the Scarborough Shoal.
According to the PCG, the CCG used “very fatal” water cannon pressure in that attack, which marked China’s increased aggression against Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
Two weeks after, media reports indicated that China approved a new policy authorizing its coast guard to detain foreigners deemed “illegally crossing its borders”even without a trial.
This new policy is set to take effect on June 15.
The new rule came after a civilian-led convoy launched by the Atin Ito (This is Ours) Coalition sailed and reached about 50 nautical miles from the Scarborough Shoal on May 16.