Lacson, Sotto begin Quezon sortie with local fisherfolk

Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson and vice presidential bet Senate President Vicente Sotto III consult with local fishermen in Lucena City, Quezon. Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau

LUCENA CITY, Philippines — The Lacson-Sotto tandem wooed local fisherfolk here on Monday with a promise to prioritize their welfare over foreigners “claiming our territory” and quick actions to the needs of the fisheries sector.

Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson, and his running mate, vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III, began their Quezon province campaign sortie with a consultative meeting with local fishermen.

“Maaasahan ninyo na kami, ang unang natin yung kapakanan ng nakakaraming mga Pilipino, hindi yung kapakanan ng mga dayuhan na siyang umaagaw sa ating hanapbuhay,” Lacson said, eliciting cheers from members of various fishers’ groups who welcomed the tandem at the Lucena Fish Port Complex.

(You can count on us, our priority is the Filipinos’ welfare, not the welfare of a foreigner who steals our livelihood.)

Among those who welcomed Lacson and Sotto are the members of Quezon-Marinduque Fishingboat Operators and Fishermen’s Association, and Pugad Lawin Group.

Fish traders or buyers and residents near the fish port were also present during the consultative meeting.

Sotto, for his part, stressed the need to hear the concerns of the Filipino fisherfolk, hence their consultation with the local fisheries sector.

“Kailangan malaman natin kung ano ang hinihiling niyo… Kami ay siguradong aaksyon kung ano man ang pangangailangan ninyo,” he said.

(We need to know your concerns… For us, we will surely act on your needs.)

The Senate president also reiterated the need for the country to have established maritime
zones.

He recalled filing a bill that would create a map of the Philippines’ maritime areas–similar to China’s nine-dash line map–which will define the maritime zones under the country’s jurisdiction.

“Nililinaw natin kung ano ang ating territorial waters (We are clarifying our territorial waters),” Sotto said of the bill.

During the consultation with the local fishermen, Lacson and Sotto were joined by their senatorial candidates: former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar, who hails from Tagkawayan, Quezon province; Dr. Minguita Padilla; and former Makati Rep. Monsour del Rosario.

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