The Philippine Daily Inquirer released an article discussing the impact of the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on local Filipino fisherfolk.
Delfin Egana, chief among them, faced the brunt of Chinese Aggression.
In 2017, Delfin Egana had his fishing equipment confiscated in a violent altercation between him and Chinese militia, leading to his severe trauma and subsequent strokes.
Not only that, Fishermen report being forced to walk barefoot on coral reefs, causing injuries.
Delfin is not the only one who has experienced trauma. Some fishermen have experienced anxiety attacks and nervous breakdowns due to these encounters.
The fisherfolk are demanding:
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- Full enforcement of the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China's claims in the South China Sea
- An apology and reparations from China for environmental damage and trauma inflicted
- The Marcos administration to bring the case before an international legal body.
Despite these challenges, the fishermen are still determined to fight for their rights in the West Philippine Sea.