Palawan fishers support calls to request recall of Chinese envoy

Fisherfolk in Palawan supported on Sunday calls by lawmakers to request the recall of Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan following his statement that Beijing could “easily win” if it resorts to force against the Philippines.

In a press conference of the Atin Ito Coalition in Palawan, leaders of fisherfolk groups also condemned China’s continued aggression toward their livelihood in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang pagbabanta ng kinatawan ng isang dayuhang bansa sa Pilipinas. Sinusuportahan namin ang panawagang pauwiin na sa China si Jing Quan,” said Rafaela David, an Atin Ito co-convenor and the Akbayan Party president.

(Threats from a representative of a foreign nation against the Philippines are unacceptable. We support the call to send Jing Quan back to China.)

“Hindi dapat bigyan ng puwang sa ating bansa ang mga katulad niya na nagbabanta sa ating bayan habang inaagawan ng kabuhayan ang ating mga mangingisda,” she added.

(Individuals like him who threaten our nation while robbing our fisherfolk of their livelihood should have no place in our country.)

The group emphasized that China’s actions in the WPS threaten their safety at sea, as well as their families’ livelihoods and food security.

It added that “every fishing trip disrupted by Chinese harassment means lost income and food off the table for families who depend on the sea.”

Atin Ito said the calls to expel Jing were backed by leaders of the Samahan ng mga Mangingisda kontra Korapsyon (SAMAKKO), Samahan ng mga Katutubo at Maliit na Mangingisda sa Dulong Timog Palawan (SAMBIL OG), Kalayaan, Palawan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association, Tinig ng mga Katutubo (TIKA), and Samahang Pagkakaisa ng mga Katutubong Tagbanua sa Marufinas.

Demands to expel the Chinese envoy grew following his remarks that Beijing could “easily win” should it use force against the Philippines, but it chose peace instead.

Senator Risa Hontiveros already filed a resolution calling on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to declare Jing Quan persona non grata or request his recall by the Chinese government.

Malacañang had earlier said that it would leave the matter to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), noting that Marcos does not favor declaring any foreign envoy persona non grata.

The DFA formally summoned Jing Quan on Monday to convey the Philippines' "serious concern and strong objection" to his recent remarks. — BM, GMA News

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