Some fishermen in Infanta, Pangasinan could not hide their dismay at what President Rodrigo Duterte said that he only said that he will jetski in the Scarborough shoal to assert the rights of Filipinos was only a “campaign joke.”
In Dagupan City, Pangasinan, ABS-CBN’s 2016 Presidential Townhall Debate was held with thousands in attendance, including fisherman Carlo Montehermozo.
He was one of the lucky ones to be able to ask the candidates.
“Ano po ba ang puwede ninyong gawin para sa aming mangingisda upang matulungan kami na hindi maitaboy ng Chinese Coast Guard at para makapamingwit kami nang mabuti at mayapa?” asked Montehermozo.
Former Davao City Mayor and now President Duterte, who said he would go jetskiing to plant the Philippine flag there, prevailed.
But this week, 5 years later, Duterte revealed that he was only joking and called those who believed in it “stupid.”
ABS-CBN News turned to Montehermozo and his tone shows great frustration especially since he was among those who believed and voted for Duterte in the last election.
“Nagsinungaling naman siya sa amin, hindi naman tinupad iyong ano niya, iyong sinabi niya sa amin… Dapat hindi joke ang sabihin niya, gawin niya iyong sinabi niya sa akin, para hindi naman kami mukhang tanga doon sa Scarborough na ganito ang ginagawa sa amin,” he lamented.
Fishers dismayed by Duterte’s jetski ‘joke’
According to Montehermozo, nothing has changed in the situation in the Scarborough shoal since Duterte took office.
The Chinese coast guard is still there and chasing fishermen entering Scarborough.
Montehermozo is just putting up with whatever is caught on the edge of Scarborough just to get his family through the hardships of life.
“Iyon nga ang masaklap doon eh, hindi kami nakakapasok doon sa loob. Pati bangka namin na malalaki… Diskarte na lang ginagawa namin para makapangisda sa loob,” said Montehermozo.
When the Chinese coast guard chased Montehermozo’s troops away in 2015, he was accompanied by his cousin Efren who secretly took a video of the events.
He was also one of those who relied on Duterte’s promise that they would be protected.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard insists that the country has intensified patrols in Scarborough to ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen.
The Palace denied that the President had done anything for the fishermen in the Scarborough shoal.
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