NMC calls out politicians who don't stand up for Filipino fishermen facing harassment in WPS

The National Maritime Council (NMC) on Sunday expressed its frustration over local politicians who refuse to make a stand against the repeated harassment by China on Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.

“Kung ikaw ay salungat ang sinasabi mo sa sinasabi ko, at pinapanigan mo pa yung salita ng kabila. What does it speak of us as a Filipino?” said NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

(If what you are saying opposes what I am saying, and you even side with the words of the other side. What does it say about us as Filipinos?)

“Tignan mo yung mga matataas na politiko, did they condemn ‘yung mga ginagawa ng Chinese government sa ating mga mangingisda sa karagatan, may narinig ba kayo? Until now, wala tayong narinig,” he added.

(Look at the high-ranking politicians, did they condemn what the Chinese government is doing to our fishermen in the sea, did you hear anything? Until now, we haven't heard anything.)

The NMC noted that Chinese vessels allegedly interfered with the medical evacuation of a Philippine Navy sailor, which delayed the transfer of the latter to a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.

“Instead na makarating sa Coast Guard vessel, na doon sana ililipat yung may sakit na tauhan natin, tumagal ng halos sampung oras na paghaharang nila,” said Lopez.

(Instead of reaching the Coast Guard vessel, where our sick personnel was supposed to be transferred, their interference that lasted for almost 10 hours. )

Also another recent incident of harassment by China was the interference on the resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal last September 24.

The NMC called on the public to make a stand amid the tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

“Iisa po ang kalaban natin dito. Pilipino tayo. Iisa ang dugo natin. Sana po ay magkaisa tayo. Let’s rally behind our flag. Ang karagatan natin ay mahalaga. Ang karagatan ay livelihood, ito ay may kinalaman sa kinabukasan,” said Lopez.

(We only have one enemy here. We are Filipinos. We share the same blood. I hope we can unite. Let’s rally behind our flag. Our seas are important. The ocean is a source of livelihood, it has to do with the future.)

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has not recognized the decision. —RF, GMA News