Militant fishers ready to surge for Duterte’s final SONA

“Militant fishers are ready to brave not only the heavy rain but also the 15,000 police forces to be deployed against the anti-Duterte protesters on Monday. Why would we be even afraid of the Philippine cops when it’s already Chinese forces we have been facing in our fishing grounds on a regular fishing basis?” Bobby Roldan, a fisherman in Zambales and PAMALAKAYA’s vice chairperson for Luzon said in a statement issued ahead of the SONA.

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“why is our government coming to China’s defense?” fishers ask

“Why is Secretary Roque coming to China’s defense? Just because he provided legal assistance to Filipino fishers affected by China before doesn’t mean he has a lasting knowledge about our worsening situation on the ground. Now that Mr. Roque has completely turned his back on Filipino fishers by seemingly lawyering for China, he loses any ethos to speak on behalf of the aggrieved fisherfolks. Our situation in the West Philippine Sea has ever worsened especially now that our own government is an enabler of Chinese aggression, simply put,” Bobby Roldan, PAMALAKAYA Vice Chair for Luzon said in a statement.

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Step up crackdown vs foreign poachers in West Philippine Sea, gov’t pressed

“It is by legal and international rights that we strongly enforce our maritime laws at our disposal against foreign poachers in our territorial waters. This is to preserve and make the use of our fragile fishery and marine resources in the West Philippine Sea that are being rapidly exploited and plundered by China,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.

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