Pamalakaya: Zambales fishers also faced harassment, red-tagging from AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from intimidation by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), Zambales fishermen also received alleged harassment from government troops, according to Progressive fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya).

Pamalakaya vice chair Ronnel Arambulo said this before lawmakers during the lower chamber’s committee on human rights briefing on Tuesday, as he raised the livelihood issues of the province’s fisherfolk affected by CCG’s presence in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

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“Sana matugunan itong problema ng maliliit na mangingisda at maliban pa dyan ay pati ‘yung human rights violations na nagaganap. Hindi lamang po sa Chinese government nakaranas mga mangingisda ng human rights violation, maging sa AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” Arambulo told lawmakers.

(I hope the problem of small fishermen will be addressed, as well as the human rights violations they experience. Not only from the Chinese government, but fishers also experience human rights violations from the AFP.)

“Dahil nitong nakaraan nung maglungsad ng collective fishing expedition bilang pagpapaabot din ng protesta para sa fishing ban ay pinuntahan po ‘yung mga kasamahan sa Pamalakaya ng nga nagpakilala mula sa AFP tinatanong kung sino sino ang sumasama at ni-re-redtag at sinasabing ang Pamalakaya ay may kaugnayan sa CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines),” he added.

(A recent collective fishing expedition was launched to protest the fishing ban, and our fellow fisherfolk joined in. Afterward, people who introduced themselves as members of the AFP asked who joined the expedition and red-tagged and linked them to CPP.)

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When panel chair Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. asked for clarification on the allegations, Arambulo said Pamalakaya is a federation of small fisherfolk groups operating with around 80,000 members since 1987.

“Dapat matuwa sana ang pamahalaan na bahagi tayo ng patuloy na naninindigan sa WPS pero ang nangyayari kami pa nakararanas ng gantong harassment sana ay ma-imbistigahan,” Arambulo told lawmakers.

(The government should be happy that we are part of those who continue to stand up for our rights in WPS, but what is happening is that we are still experiencing such harassment. I hope this gets investigated.)

Arambulo also revealed that they had already aired their concerns before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

For its part, the CHR Central Luzon told INQUIRER.net they already talked to fisherfolk and leaders in the province regarding the alleged harassment.

“They already have a sworn statement, and the investigation is ongoing,” it said in a Viber message on Tuesday afternoon.

Citing a complaint addressed to CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc, previous reports revealed a series of alleged intimidation experienced by members of Panatag from the Philippine Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion.

According to Arambulo, Panatag is a fisherfolk group affiliated with Pamalakaya. They joined the collective fishing expedition in the WPS.