PAMALAKAYA slams “heavy police presence” during Navotas lockdown
Manila, Philippines — “What do police forces on full battle gear have to do with the rising cases of virus in Navotas City? High-risk areas need visible health workers and medical teams, not fully-armed police swarming the streets on armored personnel carriers (APC),” According to the militant fishers group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Friday, reacting to the heavy police force on Navotas’ 2-week lockdown.
PAMALAKAYA said presence of police forces in full battle gear on a pandemic is actually “state terrorism” or the sowing by the government of fear to residents instead of prviding medical and other social services.
“Virus ang kalaban, pero mga pulis ang idineploy. Napakalayo nito sa panawagang solusyong medikal para labanan ang paglaganap nitong sakit,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
Hicap, also former Anakpawis Partylist solon, slated his former colleague in the Congress and incumbent Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco for what he called as “localized militarization”.
“Hindi usapin kung mag-localize lockdown. Pero dapat may planong medikal at ayuda sa mga apektadong mahihirap, hindi paninindak sa pamamagitan ng militarisasyon,” added Hicap. ###
Lastly, PAMALAKAYA said that the 2-week lockdown in the country’s fishing capital should not affect the fishing activities of small fisherfolk.
“Dapat hindi kasama sa lockdown ang pangingisda at pagbabagsak ng mga huling isda sa fish port para sa tuluy-tuloy na hanapbuhay at supply ng pagkain,” ended Hicap. ###
