Pamalakaya fears Balikatan drills may displace fisherfolk, disrupt livelihood

File photo of the Balikatan exercises back in 2022. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A militant fisherfolk group condemned on Wednesday the possible displacement of fishers when Balikatan exercises are conducted this year in fishing communities.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) issued the statement in reaction to a resolution approved by the Ilocos Norte provincial board, pushing municipalities and cities to “possibly relocate fisherfolk from fishing along the areas” where major events of the drills would be held.

The coastal towns of Burgos, Pagudpud, Bangui, Pasuquin, Bacarr, Paoay, Currimao, Badoc, and the capital city of Laoag will be affected.

“Similar to the threat of Chinese forces to the livelihood of Filipino fishers in the West Philippine Sea, the American soldiers are about to displace our fishers for the sake of their Balikatan drills. This is unacceptable and should be opposed strongly not only by the fishing sector but also the patriotic Filipinos,” Pamalakaya said.

There are 17,000 troops estimated to participate in this year’s Balikatan exercises that will be held from April 11 to 28 as part of joint military exercises between the United States and the Philippines.

“Filipino fishers do not deserve to be displaced from their livelihood only to provide a security blanket to foreign forces carrying out military drills accompanied with live fire exercises at sea. We are demanding the US troops to leave the Filipino fishers in peace and bring their warmongering power projection elsewhere,” said Ronnel Arambulo, Pamalakaya national spokesperson, in the same statement.

The group also cautioned that the exercise could increase tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea, which could further jeopardize the safety of Filipino fishers.

“We were not wrong in opposing the presence of American troops right from the start. It’s crystal clear that the US is no different from China when it comes to threatening Filipino fisherfolk and our national sovereignty,” said Arambulo.  Denver Godezano, INQUIRER.net trainee

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