SUBIC, Zambales – Fishermen here united under the banner of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) marked the 8th anniversary of the Philippines’ landmark victory against Beijing in the Permanent Court of Arbitration with a fluvial protest on July 12.
Bearing banners and Philippine flags, Filipino fishing boats roved around the fluvial site at Subic Bay waters, demanding China to recognize the ruling as a way to peacefully settle the sea row.
Pamalakaya floated a life-size replica of the cover page of the ruling erected on a fishing buoy, to symbolically install the document in the exclusive economic zone.
Joey Marabe, Zambales provincial coordinator, said they are calling the public to support the Filipino fishers in pursuing a peaceful settlement of the tensions in accordance with the arbitral ruling and an independent foreign policy.
“Dapat igiit ng Pangulong Marcos yung pagkapanalo sa international law at kasabay na rin sa panawagan sa mga Chinese community na tumulong na sabihan ang Chinese government na pakawalan na yung inaangkin nilang West Philippine Sea para malaya nang makapangisda sa Scarborough Shoal,” said Salvador France, Pamalakaya secretary general.
