Fishermen berate trapos who only show up to seek vote

📷 The National

FISHERMEN from Zambales province don’t seem too eager to see politicians nowadays amid what they claim has become a pattern that only gets to happen whenever an election is fast approaching.

“Kapag eleksyon kilala mo kami? Pagdating sa problema hindi niyo kami kilala?,” said an emotional Nolly delos Santos during a joint hearing conducted in Masinloc town by the House committee on national defense and the special committee on the West Philippine Sea.

Delos Santos, a fisherman from Sta. Cruz, Zambales, told congressmen that they have been severely suffering amid China’s relentless aggression at the Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag Shoal), even as he took a swipe at the government’s financial assistance as a mere band-aid solution.

If he had his way, delos Santos would rather go fishing at the West Philippine Sea – something that they could no longer do because they always ended up being chased by the Chinese Coast Guard.

In some instances, he added, the Chinese Coast Guards would seize their haul and give them expired instant noodles as consolation for them to go home.

“Ito po, deretsahan po, deretsahan po ang sinasabi ko sa saloobin ko po, ‘wag po kayong sumama ang loob sa aming mangingisda, hirap na hirap po kami, hindi po sapat ang ayuda, malayang pangingisda lang po ang kailangan namin,” delos Santos told congressmen in attendance.

Most of them, he added, have resorted to borrowing money from relatives as they could no longer sail amid threats of being arrested.

“Ang sabi ko sa mga anak ko, hinto muna kayo anak dahil di na kaya ng Papa niyo. Dahil ito po, dinadaan ko na lang po sa luha, dinadaan ko na lang po sa inyo dahil ngayon lang po kayo bumaba, ramdam naman ninyo siguro ang kahirapan namin.” (ANGEL F. JOSE)