If the government won’t issue a diplomatic protest against China for taking away the catch of Filipino fishermen, the least it could do is to demand an apology from its perceived ally, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 

“Dapat maghain ng pormal na protesta ang pamahalaan laban sa ginawa ng Chinese coast guard sa ating mga mangingisda. Pero kahit sorry, hindi man lang hiningi,” said Sen. Bam. 

Earlier, a television station aired a video where Chinese coast guard personnel were shown taking the catch from Filipino fishermen. 

“Nanakawan, inaapi pa ang ating mga mangingisda. Kampihan naman natin ang ating mga kababayan,” the senator said. 

“Napaka-strikto ng administrasyon pagdating sa ating mamamayan. Ngunit kapag isyu na ng China, napakaluwag sa mga patakaran,” Sen. Bam added. 

If the government will not do anything to address this incident, Sen. Bam said the Chinese coast guard will be emboldened to commit more abuses against the Filipino people. 

“Hindi natin kailangang humingi ng permiso mula sa China dahil teritoryo natin ang kanilang inangkin,” added Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam also reiterated his call to the government to assert the country’s victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which declared that Filipino fishermen have traditional fishing rights to the waters of Scarborough Shoal. 

“Makinig tayo sa panawagan ni Acting Chief Justice Carpio. Sayang lang ang panalo ng Pilipinas sa PCA kung hindi gagamitin para ipaglaban ang atin mga mangingisda,” Sen. Bam said. 

Earlier, Sen. Bam urged the Senate to take the lead in defending the country amid China’s militarization of our seas. 

The senator said that a strong and independent Senate can and should investigate all our dealings with China, especially when the rights and livelihood of our countrymen are at risk.