Fishers beaten up by Malaysians turn to Duterte for help

FISHERMEN (from left) Teody Baisa, Nelson Plamiano and Arlon Sandro show a note, given by a Malaysian Navy personnel, warning them against fishing near the Rizal Reef. ALLAN MACATUNO / INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON

SUBIC, ZAMBALES—Three fishermen, who were reportedly beaten up while under Malaysian Navy custody on May 9, said they were still waiting for the Malaysian government’s action on their complaint.

So when President Duterte visits Malaysia next week, fishermen Teody Baisa, Nelson Plamiano and Arlon Sandro hoped he would raise their complaint with the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“We are wondering what had happened to our complaint. We are waiting for the Malaysian government to fulfill what it promised,” Baisa said on Thursday, referring to a Malaysian government pronouncement that it would prosecute the Navy personnel who assaulted them.

“I hope President Duterte could ask the Malaysian government about the status of our complaint. This will help us get justice,” Baisa said.

Mr. Duterte is scheduled to make an official visit to Malaysia on Nov. 9 to 10 to discuss Razak’s issues over piracy in the Malacca Strait.

Malaysian maritime policemen arrested the fishermen, all residents of Barangay Calapandayan here, while the Filipinos were fishing about 17 nautical miles from the Rizal (Commodore) Reef.

Malaysian authorities claimed the Filipinos illegally entered Malaysia’s territorial waters, southwest of the Philippines.

The three fishermen said they were handcuffed, slapped, punched and kicked in the chest by about 20 Malaysian Navy men while on board a naval vessel.

Earlier, then Foreign Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said the Malaysian government had expressed regret for the attack on the three fishermen. He said the Malaysian government was preparing sanctions against those involved.

The fishermen also sought the Department of Justice’s help after the previous administration failed to deliver its promised assistance.

Baisa, who has stopped joining fishing trips in the West Philippine Sea, said he has barely recovered from the abuses they experienced from the Malaysians.

“I’m heavily in debt since the injuries I got from the assault prevented me from going on fishing trips,” he said.