Romualdez says government will protect Filipino fisherfolk

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday assured Filipino fishermen that the government of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. would continue to protect them from Chinese bullying and harassment, and possibly from illegal detention.

He made the assurance on National Fisherfolk Day as a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson claimed the Philippines need not worry about a Chinese plan to detain “trespassers” for at least 60 days without trial.

Romualdez said President Marcos “will do everything it can to protect our fishermen in pursing their economic and livelihood activities within our exclusive economic zone, including Bajo de Masinloc near Zambales and Pangasinan.”

“We will use all the powers we have to keep them safe,” he said.

At the same time, the leader of the 300-plus-strong House said China should stop threatening with detention Filipinos fishing within the Philippines’ EEZ.

“Our countrymen cannot be considered as trespassers. It is the Chinese and other foreigners illegally entering our maritime waters under international law who will be treated as intruders,” he said.