Fishermen filed West PHL Sea kalikasan suit ‘with full knowledge, consent’ —lawyer

The Filipino fishermen who filed an environmental case covering the West Philippine Sea before the Supreme Court did so “with full knowledge and consent,” contrary to the government’s claim that many of them disowned the suit, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said on Wednesday.

Diokno made the statement a day after Solicitor General Jose Calida claimed that 19 of the fishermen named as petitioners in the writ of kalikasan case said they neither knew of nor supported the filing of the petition. 

The supposed withdrawal of the fishermen from the high-profile case after Navy lawyers spoke with them was suspicious and unethical, Diokno said in a statement. He is one of the lawyers defending the case.

“Nagsampa ng petition for writ of kalikasan ang mga mangingisda ng Zambales at Palawan para protektahan sila ng gobyerno. They did this will full knowledge and consent, dahil ang gusto lang naman nila … makapangisda sa sarili nating dagat, at kumita ng sapat para mabuhay ang kanilang mga pamilya," he said.

“Ngayon, pagkatapos ‘makausap’ ng abogado ng Navy, umatras na daw ang mga mangingisda. Hindi raw kanila ang kaso. Hindi lang kahina-hinala na patagong nakipag-usap ang gobyerno sa mga kliyente namin, labag din sa legal ethics ‘yan,” he added.

“Mukhang na-Recto 22 na naman ang mga Pilipino,” Diokno suggested, referring to the Filipino fishermen whose boat sank off Recto Bank after a Chinese vessel allegedly rammed it.

After talking to Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, the boat captain said he may have been carried away when he previously insisted the Chinese intentionally hit their boat. Piñol denied he coerced the fishermen to change their narrative.

The writ seeks a High Court order for the Duterte administration to enforce Philippine environmental laws in Panatag Shoal, Ayungin Shoal, and Panganiban Reef, where they alleged the Chinese had harvested endangered species, used cyanide, and conducted construction activities.

The petitioners said the government has been “neglecting” the performance of its duty to enforce environmental laws and want the court to compel the government to “protect, preserve, rehabilitate or restore” the environment in the disputed sea.

The second round of oral arguments on the case was suspended Tuesday afternoon after Calida revealed the government was in possession of the affidavits of the 19 fishermen withdrawing from the petition.

Calida claimed that after a closed-door conference with Diokno, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the justices of the High Court, the parties involved agreed that the case should be dismissed.

Without confirming the agreement to dismiss, Diokno said the parties agreed to file a joint motion updating the Court what the next move will be this Friday.

In his statement, Diokno said he is more concerned about the fishermen’s safety.

“Pinakita na ng administrasyong Duterte na walang makakapigil sa lakas nito. Sana gamitin nila ‘yan para protektahan ang kapwa Pilipino,” he said. —VDS, GMA News