MANILA, Philippines- Hinikayat ng ilang grupo ng mga mangingisda ang pamahalaan na palakasin ang maritime security sa Western Mindanao sa gitna ng namataang Chinese Navy ships sa katubigan nito.
“They might not be that aggressive now here but we don’t know what will happen next given the tense situation in the WPS (West Philippine Sea),” pahayag ni Katipunan ng mga Kilusang Artisanong Mangingisda sa Pilipinas leader Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon nitong Linggo.
“That is why there must be an aggressive action from our government, especially that they are penetrating our territorial waters and would be disadvantageous as threats are imminent.”
Noong Hunyo 7, dalawang Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels ang namataang dumaraan sa Basilan Strait malapit sa Zamboanga Peninsula.
Noong Mayo, kinumpirma ng Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command ang “innocent passage” ng apat na PLAN vessels sa Sibutu Passage sa Tawi-Tawi.
“It’s just so unfair that while Chinese warships freely navigate the waters in Mindanao, we are thrown out in our waters in West Philippines Sea,” ani Ballon.
Samantala, inihayag ni Edicio “Ed” Dela Torre, presidente ng Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, na ang palalayag ng China sa katubigan ng Pilipinas ay “double standard” dahil malaya silang nakadaraan sa nasabing katubigan sa ilalim ng United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea habang nagha-harass ng mga mangingisdang Pilipino sa West Philippine Sea.
“We are worried that our fishermen will be the next to suffer from crossing the sea or catching fish resources from our waters,” giit ni Ballon.
Ang Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement ay isang non-government organization na nagsusulong ng rural development at local democracy sa bansa.
Nag-deploy ang Philippine Coast Guard ng maritime security groups sa “critical regions,” kabilang ang Western Visayas, upang paigtingin ang maritime security drive sa Philippine domestic waters. RNT/SA
