‘Exhaust all legal options to defend Pinoy fishermen’

MANILA, Philippines — Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas and four other Catholic bishops yesterday asked the Philippine government to exhaust all legal options to defend the Filipino fishermen reportedly recently harassed at Scarborough Shoal by the China Coast Guard (CCG).

In a three-page joint pastoral exhortation titled “Children, Have You Caught Anything to Eat?” Villegas and Iba, Zambales Bishop Bartolome Santos Jr.; San Fernando, La Union Bishop Daniel Presto; Puerto Princesa Apostolic Vicar Bishop Socrates Mesiona and Taytay, Palawan Apostolic Vicar Bishop Broderick Pabillo said that they stand with the Filipino fishermen exercising their right to fish within Philippine waters.

“The Church stands with them, and as shepherds from various ecclesiastical jurisdictions with fisherfolk within our pastoral care, we stand with them, and we bishops give voice to the fears and anxieties, their woes and their concerns,” the five bishops said.

The prelates clarified that they favor a peaceful settlement to the issue and would want the country’s leaders to protect the Filipino fishermen from foreign aggressors.

And if need be, the government could seek the assistance of other countries who are allies of the Philippines, according to the five bishops.

“We seek peace, and it cannot be a moral option to wage war… All legal means must be exhausted… If present diplomatic endeavors do not suffice, then it is permissible – morally necessary even – to have recourse to the friendship of allies who can help us defend what is ours!” they said.

“Neither is it just for the leaders of our country to allow our own fisherfolk to be driven out of fishing grounds over which international law recognizes our rights. We gratefully acknowledge statements of resoluteness about defending the resources that God, in his munificence, has made available to us through the sea, but words are not enough,” they added.

The prelates also mentioned that poor fishermen do not receive sufficient assistance from the government.

As caretakers of God’s creation, they also called on the fishermen and the public to respect and take better care of the marine resources because they are accountable to future generations.

The public should also help defend the right of Filipino fishermen to engage in fishing activities within the country’s territory.

They pointed out that before the Chinese forcibly occupied the country’s maritime zones, the Filipino fishermen did not have to go very far to fish, to be able to provide for their families.

They also spoke against the destruction caused by the incursion of China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), particularly the Scarborough Shoal, which is also referred to as Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

“It is no secret that the aggressive incursions of the Chinese into our maritime zones, resulting in the widespread destruction of coral reefs, marine sanctuaries and the habitat of fish and sea-dwelling animals have wrought havoc on the lives of our fisherfolk,” they said.

On Jan. 12, CCG personnel reportedly harassed Filipino fishermen at around 8:43 a.m., and ordered them to throw back into the sea the taktakun shells that they had gathered from the south side of the shoal, which were supposed to have been their meal.

The CCG even prevented one boat from departing until the fishermen complied with instructions to return their catch into the water.

Taktakun shells are a local delicacy similar to snails or susu.