“The equipment can be used as evidence by the Philippine government against the Chinese government on the issue of the West Philippine Sea territorial dispute,” Anakpawis said.
The kilometer-long dredge floaters could be worth millions of pesos. Ebdane advised fishermen not to rush on selling it amid some “processes” to be followed, with the assurance that local folk would definitely profit from the flotsam.
But Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap said “the suspected Chinese equipment should be immediately turned over to the national government to serve as possible evidence against the illegal Chinese building of artificial islands inside our territory.”
“If the fishermen who discovered the said equipment were asking for compensation, government officials should educate them that it was part of their duty as Filipino citizens in connection with the national effort against violation of our national sovereignty,” he said.
But Hicap also stressed that at the same time, “the government units should immediately release assistance for the affected fisherfolk population of the sea row.”
“We advise our fellow fishermen not to tamper or cannibalize the floaters because it would serve our struggle against China,” Hicap added.
He also stressed that regardless of the territorial dispute with China, “the provincial government of Zambales should call off its plan to auction the dredge floaters.”
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya – Pilipinas) has estimated some 12, 000 fisherolk in the provinces of Zambales, Pangasinan and Bataan are affected by the on-going tension in the West Philippine Sea covering 26 percent of traditional fishing grounds.
“This is a national struggle, the national government should take responsibility for the impact of the dispute on its constituents and not rely on the capacity of local government units,” Anakpawis said.
