Push Admin

Local fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales prepare their equipment for a five-day fishing trip in the evening of June 17, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file

Article (news)

WEST PH SEA

Willard Cheng

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172232668181820240617-masinloc-fishermen-MD-4.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Local fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales prepare their equipment for a five-day fishing trip in the evening of June 17, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Local fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales prepare their equipment for a five-day fishing trip in the evening of June 17, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Fisherfolk from Masinloc, Zambales called on the Philippine government to protect their source of livelihood in the West Philippine Sea amid what they described as continued harassment from Chinese forces in the disputed waters.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/23/masinloc-fishers-like-west-philippine-sea-mention-but-find-sona-lacking-1232">• Masinloc fishers like West Philippine Sea mention but find SONA lacking</a></div><p>Fisherman Eddie Edura of the Bigkis ng Mangingisda told House lawmakers that their fish catch has dwindled over the years as the Chinese Coast Guard have shooed them away and prevented them from fishing in Scarborough Shoal.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/29/china-out-of-their-mind-for-imposing-fishing-ban-in-disputed-sea-ph-navy-1326">• China &#x27;out of their mind&#x27; for imposing &#x27;unilateral&#x27; fishing ban in disputed sea: PH Navy</a></div><p> “Napakasakit po sa amin nangyari sa pagha-harass po nila sa amin. Di po kami titigil sa pangingisda basta hindi po nila kami gagamitan ng kamay na bakal... Kaya gusto ko po ipaabot sa pamahaalan, sa aming Pangulo si Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos na kami ay maprotektahan sa aming hanapbuhay sa West Philippine Sea, sana mapangalagaan ang kalikasan dahil dito po umaasa ang libo libong Pilipinong mahihirap,” Edura said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/20/nsc-philippines-compiling-evidence-on-new-case-vs-china-1607">• NSC: Philippines compiling evidence on new case vs China</a> </div><p>The Philippine Navy expressed support for reparations for both “the environmental harm to our marine resources” and “the suffering of fisherfolk” as it condemned the “the continued harassment” and aggression of the Chinese Coast Guard against Filipino fisherfolk.</p><p>&quot;The Philippine Navy supports the call for reparations for both the environmental harm to our marine resources and the suffering of our fisherfolk,&quot; said Rear Admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Ezpeleta, chief of the Naval Staff of the Philippine Navy.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/28/consistency-a-challenge-for-west-philippine-sea-policy-geopolitical-analyst-1235">• Consistency a challenge for West Philippine Sea policy: geopolitical analyst</a></div><p>He also assured fishermen of protection, saying the Navy will continue to monitor and patrol the country&#x27;s maritime domain “to uphold (Philippine) maritime rights and address violations effectively.”</p><p>“Your Navy holds the position that the continued harassment, aggression of the CCG against the fisherfolk are not only violation of human rights but also an affront to our nation’s sovereignty. These actions have resulted in trauma, economic hardship and significant threat to the livelihood of our coast communities in Bataan, Pangasinan, Zambales and Palawan,&quot; <span data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-color="" id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;--darkreader-inline-color:#bfb9b1;--darkreader-inline-bgcolor:#181a1b;display:inline !important">Ezpeleta said.</span> </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/28/filipino-fishermen-unfazed-by-china-s-fishing-ban-arrest-threat-2201">• Filipino fishermen unfazed by China’s fishing ban, arrest threat</a></div><p>Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal said China’s activities in the West Philippine Sea are meant to “push Philippine activities out of the West Philippine  Sea” and prevent not only fishing but petroleum exploration as well.</p><p> He pointed out as well the recent sailing of a big ship of the Chinese Coast Guard 60 nautical miles from Philippines, China’s conduct of an “intrusive patrol” 90 nautical miles from Philippines, and China’s deployment of the Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia “in large numbers all across the West Philippine Sea.”</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/20/philippines-to-snub-china-s-arrest-threat-vs-trespassers-1340">• Philippines to snub China&#x27;s arrest threat vs &#x27;trespassers&#x27;</a></div><p>“These are the kind of activities to push Philippine activities out of the West Philippine Sea. Fishing is only of them. The other is petroleum exploration which as we know in 2022 was interfered with and we are now essentially keeping watch on what happens next with respect to other service contracts in the area.” </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mg6YWapKUGI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Fisherman Eddie Edura said their fish catch has dwindled over the years as the Chinese Coast Guard have shooed them away. </p>

Fisherman Eddie Edura said their fish catch has dwindled over the years as the Chinese Coast Guard have shooed them away.

PH Navy backs reparation bid vs China over 'marine destruction, trauma'

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

PH Navy backs reparation bid vs China over 'marine destruction, trauma'

Willard Cheng,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 30, 2024 04:37 PM PHT

Read More:

House

House of Representatives

fish

fisherman

West Philippine Sea

WPS

China

Beijing

Navy

ANC

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.