News Release
July 2, 2019
Duterte’s verbal fishing deal with Xi still grounds for impeachment – PAMALAKAYA
Manila, Philippines – “Whether verbal or formal agreement, the mere fact that our chief executive has given a go signal to China to exploit our marine territory at the expense of Filipino fisherfolk is more than enough to have him impeached over treason and culpable violation of our constitution,” according to the militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Tuesday.
The fisherfolk group slated Duterte for having an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping concerning the country’s fishing territory without a democratic consultation with the Filipino fishers whose livelihood and rights are at stake because of the deal.
“A chief executive does not make an agreement with a foreign counterpart without getting the side of its constituents especially if it involves and compromises our rights to our exclusive territory,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
Noting on China’s refusal to have a third party in Recto Bank incident investigation, PAMALAKAYA said “this is all the more reason not to push through with the Philippines-China joint investigation, and pursue a full independent maritime probe to give justice for the 22 Filipino fishermen instead,”
“Beijing’s rejection to have a third party in the joint investigation says a lot about the whole nature and the outcome of the this process; that it will be a one-sided probe in favor to China. We reiterate our strong objection to a joint investigation with China because it means cover-up to the Chinese perpetrators while depriving our fishermen justice, and moreover, a surrender of our sovereignty,” ended Hicap. ###
