黑料社

Pacquiao vows more personnel, equipment to guard West Philippine Sea

Five years after South China Sea ruling, China's presence around Philippines grows

Filipino fishermen load ice, gasoline, and other equipment as they prepare to sail to the disputed South China Sea, in Infanta, Pangasinan province, Philippines, June 26, 2021. Picture taken June 26, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

MANILA, Philippines 鈥 Senator Manny Pacquiao vowed on Thursday to provide more personnel and equipment to help guard the West Philippine Sea so that fishermen can freely continue their livelihood if he is elected president.

鈥淟ahat ng mangingisda, gusto ko malaya silang mangingisda sa ating bansa, sa teritoryo natin at ang gagawin natin dyan, pabantayan natin ng mga Coast Guard natin para hindi sila takutin, hindi sila paalisin, ipagtabuyan,鈥 he said at the 鈥淚kaw Na Ba?鈥 presidential interview of DZBB.

(I want all fishermen to freely work in our territory. We will order the Coast Guard to guard the areas so that the fishermen will not be intimidated or be driven away.)

鈥淗indi po tayo, huwag po tayong magpabully, huwag po tayong masindak sa mga ganyan dahil atin po ito. Bansa po natin ito,鈥 he added.

(Let us not allow ourselves to be bullied. We should not be intimidated because this is our territory. This is our country.)

Pacquiao said fishermen should be protected by the state, considering聽their contribution to the country.

鈥淢agdagdag po tayo ng mga kagamitan para mabantayan sila. Napakaimportante po nyan鈥 Ang mangingisda natin ay malaki ang naiambag nilang tulong sa ating bansa. Dahil sa kanila ay nakakakain tayo ng isda,鈥 he went on.

(We will provide more equipment to guard them. This is really important鈥 Our fishermen have a lot of contributions to the country. Because of them, we can eat fish.)

Pacquiao earlier said there is no need for the Philippines to fight other nations in asserting the country鈥檚 rights over maritime territories.

However, he clarified that this does not mean that the Philippines should allow itself to be stepped on.

RELATED STORIES:

West Philippine Sea: Where presidential aspirants stand

EDV
MOST READ
Read more...