Zambales fishermen no longer being harassed

MASINLOC, Zambales, Philippines — The Vietnamese are more aggressive than the Chinese, according to some fishermen living in this town.

Romulo Pedroso, 66, president of the Samahan ng mga Mangingisda ng Barangay Inhobol (Nilalamo A Mininilay Nin Inhobol), said the Chinese have stopped harassing them since Duterte became president.

He said their group of some 180 fishermen even had an easier time getting access to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Pedroso said they are more concerned about Vietnamese fishermen getting their catch some 48 kilometers from the shoreline.

He said the Vietnamese are gobbling up the catch of payao operators in the open sea by turning on their powerful 5,000-watt searchlight to lure fish.

Pedroso called on the government to implement the Writ of Kalikasan order of the Supreme Court to force the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other maritime agencies to solve their dilemma.

He claimed the PCG is making it easy for the Vietnamese to compete with Filipino fishermen.

Jasper Empoc, 31, a fisherman of 15 years, also claimed they have no problem fishing at Panatag Shoal. 

He said maritime law enforcement agencies should be stricter with the Vietnamese fishermen. 

Archie Pedroso, 40, said the reports of harassment by the Chinese are “recycled.”

The Zambales Task Force-Bantay-Dagat based in Palauig town, however, admitted they don’t know much about the Writ of Kalikasan issued by the SC.