Don’t ‘downplay’ threat of China coast guard law, Hontiveros tells Lorenzana

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday called on Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana not to “downplay” the possible threat of China’s coast guard law to Filipino fishermen, saying Beijing could “interpret and implement its law the way it pleases.”

“Dapat tayo ang unang tagapagtanggol ng mga mangingisda natin [We should be the first to defend our fishermen], because China will not protect them,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“We don’t have the luxury of downplaying any external threat, especially one coming from a country that has, time and again, pillaged our seas and our people,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

Hontiveros issued the call after Lorenzana assured Filipino fishermen that the “[Chinese] law “does not concern them” because their boats are not armed vessels.

“Fishermen are not armed and I advise them to continue fishing in their traditional fishing grounds like Scarborough Shoal, Reed Bank and even Mischief Reef because those are traditional fishing grounds of Filipinos,” the defense chief earlier said.

This statement however did not sit well with the senator.

“Paulit-ulit na lang bang ibabalewala ang mga banta ng Tsina? Sarili nating mga mangingisda ang mismong nagiging biktima ng pananalasa ng China, pero bakit hindi pa rin sila pinaniniwalaan ng gobyerno?” the senator went on.

(Will we continue to downplay China’s threats? Our own fishermen are becoming the victims of China’s aggression, but why won’t the government believe them?)

“Sila na nga ang nawalan ng hanapbuhay dahil sa paghahari-harian ng China, tapos, hindi pa pumapanig sa kanila ang mga taong dapat sana’y unang unang tagapagtanggol ng ating kapwa Pilipino?,” she added.

(They are the ones losing their livelihood because of China’s claims, and then, the people who should be the first to defend Filipinos won’t even believe them.)

Lorenzana, nevertheless, claimed he was “very concerned” about the law, saying it could cause “miscalculations and accidents” in disputed waters.

Under China’s new law, the Chinese Coast Guard will be allowed to “take all necessary measures, including the use of weapons when national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon by foreign organizations or individuals at sea.”

But Hontiveros said the defense department should “focus on enforcing our laws in our own waters, because China will interpret and implement its law the way it pleases.”

“We should step up our game by protecting the livelihood and economic interests of our compatriots in the West Philippine Sea,” she added.

While she welcomed Lorenzana’s assurance that the government will have Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy patrols ensure our fisherfolk’s protection in the disputed waters, Hontiveros stressed that the defense department should stop “dismissing the concerns raised by fisherfolks themselves.”

“The [Department of National Defense] better start listening to our fisherfolk. Nakakalungkot na may mga balita pang baka nagsisinungaling daw ang mga mangingisdang nagrereklamo sa panghaharass ng Tsina. Sila na nga ang mawawalan ng kabuhayan, sila pa ang sinungaling?” the senator said.

(The DND better start listening to our fisherfolk. It’s upsetting to read that our fishermen were made to look like they were not telling the truth about China’s harassment. They are the ones losing their livelihood, and yet they are made to look like they’re lying?)

Earlier, the military in Palawan said a Filipino fisherman’s report about being harassed by a China Coast Guard ship near the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea was “improbable.”

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana earlier said the Philippines will deploy more naval assets in the West Philippine Sea amid China’s “very alarming” and “very irresponsible” law

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Manila defended China’s new law, saying it conforms to international conventions and is not targeted at any specific country. The embassy also denied claims of Chinese harassment of Filipino fishermen.

EDV