A network of civil society organizations remains in solidarity with the 22 fishermen from San Jose town in Occidental Mindoro who figured in an incident with a Chinese trawler in Recto Bank at the West Philippine Sea.

“The fisherfolk sector provides food in our table, with the farmers, they are the backbone of our society. Yet, they are among the poorest of the poor. Government should protect them because without them the whole nation will go hungry,” said the Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI) in an emailed statement.

PMPI, a network of civil society organizations, rights groups, peace and faith-based institutions, expressed disbelief and disgust over the position and standpoints issued by the Philippine government regarding the “ramming and sinking” of F/B Gem-Vir by the Chinese vessel in the disputed sea.

The group cried “foul” at the seeming harassment through indirect bribes and intimidation by government leaders and the dismissive statements on the claims of the fisherfolks who said a Chinese vessel rammed and sunk their vessel midnight of June 9.

“These actions show the world that it is ready to submit to China and lose whatever dignity we have as a people,” said PMPI.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1132994/civil-society-groups-express-support-for-recto-bank-22?fbclid=IwAR2RakyEU5rxWL2MPlPtMsHTVB6_UqwHNp7xqWaUxJeLtMIsDYBsr0bFG5o

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