Pacquiao vows more personnel, equipment to guard West Philippine Sea

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 — 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.

“Lahat 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,” he said at the “Ikaw Na Ba?” 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.)

“Hindi po tayo, huwag po tayong magpabully, huwag po tayong masindak sa mga ganyan dahil atin po ito. Bansa po natin ito,” 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 their contribution to the country.

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

(We will provide more equipment to guard them. This is really important… 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’s 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

Pacquiao: PH must assert rights, presence in WPS; maintain cordial China ties

EDV