Hontiveros, De Lima slam latest water cannon attack on Pinoy fishers in WPS

Senator Risa Hontiveros and House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima on Sunday condemned the recent water cannon attack by Chinese vessels that injured three Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.  

“I strongly denounce China’s relentless aggression against our fisherfolk. Hindi na nga maayos na makapaghanapbuhay ang ating mangingisda sa sarili nating karagatan, sasaktan pa nila?,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

(Our fishermen can no longer earn a livelihood properly in our own waters and now they hurt them?)

The senator added that, “China seems intent on getting what she wants at the cost of not only our territories, but also our people. This escalating violence must compel our government to immediately fast-track defense treaty negotiations with like-minded countries.”

The Philippine Coast Guard said three Filipino fishermen were injured Friday after Chinese coast guard and militia vessels used water cannons and acted aggressively against Filipino fishing boats near Escoda Shoal.

“Our fisherfolk must not be left defenseless. More Coast Guard personnel and vessels must accompany them to the West Philippine Sea. Lagyan na ng malinaw na budget at sapat na suporta ang ganitong inisyatibo. Huwag nating hayaang mag-isa at walang proteksyon ang ating mga mangingisda,” the lawmaker said.

(Provide a clear budget and sufficient support this initiative. Let us now leave our fishermen alone and defenseless.)

“May Navy na nawalan ng daliri, mga Coast Guard crew na nagkaroon ng temporary blindness, at ngayon, mga mangingisdang nasugatan. We cannot afford to be unprepared as China continues to endanger Filipino lives,” she added.

(We have a Navy sailor who lost a finger, a Coast Guard crew who suffered temporary blindness, and now, we have injured fishermen.)

'Deeply concerning'

In a separate statement, Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Rep. De Lima described the recent “China Coast Guard harassment” as “outrageous” and “deeply concerning”.  

“We strongly condemn the recent harassment by the China Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), including the deliberate firing of water cannons at Filipino fishing boats that injured three of our fishermen, as well as dangerous maneuvers against our Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels. This is utterly outrageous and deeply concerning,” the solon said. 

“This serious violation of our fishermen’s rights demands urgent and necessary action from the government. Nakababahala na tinatarget na ng China Coast Guard ng water cannon ang mismong mga bangka ng ating mga mangingisda, at posibleng gawin nila ito ulit, kaya hindi pwedeng hayaan at palampasin lang ito ng pamahalaan,” she added.

(It is disturbing that the China Coast Guard is targeting water cannons at our fishing boats and our fishermen, and it is possible they will do this again, that is why our government should not tolerate and let this incident pass.) —RF, GMA Integrated News