Roque, fulfill your promise: escort fishers inside Panatag

Will presidential spokesman Harry Roque make good his vow to accompany Filipino fishermen inside Panatag Shoal?

Two-and-a-half months ago Roque trumpeted he will sail to the traditional Filipino fishing ground west of Luzon. He intends to belie fishermen’s cries of being barred by Chinese coastguards. He made a show before the press of instructing an underling to “arrange our trip.” They would proceed to Pagasa Island farther away. Ten weeks is enough to prepare for the voyage.

Now is timely. Weather is fine. Fishers are aching to catch their usual tonnage in the 15,000-hectare shoal 123 miles off Zambales. Six thousand poor folk for whom Roque brags to have once lawyered are awaiting his signal.

Roque is nominated as senatorial candidate by President Duterte. He can impress voters with gallantry, empathy and being true to his word.

Roque last week flew across the Pacific to lobby in New York for appointment to the International Law Commission. Flight and airport time took a day, one way. If he can do that for ambition, he could sacrifice 22 hours to Panatag for countrymen. Newsmen are raring to tag along. He can set off from the free port area of Bataan, which he frequents for whatever reason.

Fishermen deplore ramming and water-cannon by Chinese coastguards. Two big-gunned Chinese vessels guard the narrow mouth of Panatag. It has been five years since The Hague arbitral court outlawed China’s grab of the shoal within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Beijing rejects the ruling and any assertion of Philippine fishing rights.

On the verdict’s July 12 anniversary, fishers in Bataan, Zambales and Pangasinan reiterated pleas for government help. Roque instead showed the press supposed photos of Filipino fishermen protected by domestic coastguards. “Malinaw na malinaw na nakapangingisda ang ating mga kababayan,” he claimed. “Hindi ko kailangan ng kahit sinong humamon. Matagal ko nang gustong pumunta doon.” In Pagasa, part of Palawan’s Kalayaan municipality, Chinese coastguards also stop Filipinos from approaching Sandy Cay.

Roque is the only one authorized to speak about the West Philippine Sea. That followed Filipino outcry against poaching by Chinese maritime militia. Even the National Task Force-WPS was gagged after reporting the trespassing of 340 Chinese militia trawlers in Pagkakaisa Reef, Kalayaan and Recto Bank. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana too was silenced. On May 17 Duterte ordered: “To the Cabinet and to all and sundry talking for the government, refrain from discussing this WPS with anybody. If we have to talk, tayo-tayo lang, and there is one spokesman – Secretary Harry.”

Retired Filipino generals in Advocates for National Interest view the news blackout as further capitulation by Duterte to China. The President has said he is “inutile” against the sea aggression. Recently he disclosed a verbal pact with President Xi Jinping for Chinese to fish in Philippine waters. He gave no details on the duration, volume and extent.

Domestic fish catch has dwindled from increased Chinese poaching. Satellite images reveal proliferation of Chinese vessels. “The data here is very clear,” said Greg Poling of Washington think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies in July. “China Coast Guard ships and the militia are in the Philippines’ EEZ more than they were five years ago.”

Domestic prices of round scad (galunggong) have tripled; and mackerel and sardine catch are threatened. Government’s response is to import 60,000 tons of those fish in October to December, and double that in the following quarter. Weeks ago commercial and artisanal fishers, fishpond growers and suppliers joined in unprecedented protest. Fleet operator Francis Tiu Laurel, Frabelle Group, said capture drops 15,000 tons during the Nov-Dec commercial fishing ban. But small catchers can more than cover the supply. Aquaculturist Norbert Chingcuanco assured that milkfish (bangus) and tilapia-raisers always have pond inventory 50 times the daily harvest. Navotas fishport wholesaler Roderick Jonjon Santos, who also fishes commercially, said China’s WPS reef-concreting has ruined the catch all the way to Palawan. All agreed that instead of massive imports, Philippine coastguards should protect them.

Earlier, Bobby Roldan, vice chair for Luzon of fisherfolk group Pamalakaya, lamented Roque’s disclaimers about Chinese harassment in Panatag. “Nakakalungkot, nakakagalit ang pahayag ng spokesman ng Pangulo na pinagmumukha kaming sinungaling.” To demonstrate their risks and hardships, he asked Roque to join one of their trips: “Chinese patrols might recognize his authority and allow us to fish there.”

During the 2016 presidential debates, Duterte hyperbolized that he’d jet-ski to Kalayaan, plant the Filipino flag and declare to China that “This is ours.” That won him votes. Last July he said it was “just a joke” and anyone who believed him was “stupid.” This time voters must first see action from Roque.

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