The intimidation and harassment that China is doing through its Coast Guard and militia are nothing but acts of cowardice, Kalayaan town Sangguniang Bayan member Maurice Philip Alexis Albayda said.
Albayda gave his reaction after the latest incidents where China blocked Philippine Coast Guard vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engaño, preventing them from delivering supplies to BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal last Monday, August 26.
A day earlier, the China Coast Guard (CCG) ships also rammed and water cannoned Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Datu Sanday, also in Escoda Shoal.
He said that while there is already an agreement between Beijing and Manila on resupply missions, China is isolating it to Ayungin Shoal and has thus shifted its actions to other areas in the West Philippine Sea, particularly Escoda Shoal, which has become a new flashpoint of escalating tension.
He also said they are pushing for the agreement to be made public in the interest of transparency.
“But what I can say is that, sa ginagawa ng China, they are so cowardly that they do not want us to practice our maritime governance within our territory,” Albayda said.
“They are so cowardly that they don’t want us to be able to sustain our fishermen. Baka may tinatago sila, that’s how afraid they are in facing the truth. We can see it on the surface as an act of cowardice,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Kalayaan lawmaker stated that one major concern raised during the West Philippine Sea Forum last Monday was the state of fishermen in Palawan, particularly the fact that while the province has rich fishing grounds, it still imports fish from other provinces.
He said the main reason is that there are only a handful of fishermen from the province venturing out to the West Philippine Sea due to the absence of a large fishing industry.
“Kasi bago pa lang, 2018 lang nagkaroon ng sheltered wharf (sa Pag-asa Island), then 2022 natapos yung ice plant, and 2020 nagkaroon ng kuryente,” he stated.
“So siguro mapupunta tayo sa stability ng fishing industry natin kung matatapos yung Pag-asa Island as a logistics hub. And right now, the government is doing its best, preparing the island for the fishing industry,” he explained.
