House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

MASINLOC, Zambales--House Speaker Martin Romualdez has assured the people here, particularly the harassment-weary fishermen, that they have the full support of President Marcos. 

Romualdez issued a statement on the occasion of the joint hearing of the House Committees on National Defense and Security and the Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) about the so-called "gentleman’s agreement" between former president Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. read Romualdez's message at the start of the hearing -slash-public consultation with the embattled fishermen. 

"Ang ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr ay nasa inyong likod at kailanman ay hinding-hindi kayo pababayaan (You have our beloved President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. at your back, he will never neglect you)," Romualdez said in his message. 

"Nais kong bigyang-diin ang isang mahalagang isyu na patuloy ninyong hinaharap sa tuwing kayo’y pumapalaot sa Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). Ito ay ang banta ng China sa ating teritoryo at karapatan sa pangingisda," he said. 

(I want to stress a very important issue that you continue to face whenever you set sail toward Bajo de Masinloc. This is China's threat on out territory and out right to fish.) 

Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal was seized by the China in 2012 after a standoff between the Chinese Coast Guard and the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard). China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels have since been routinely bullying and shooing away Filipino fishermen from that area. 

"Hindi kayo nag-iisa sa laban na ito (You are not alone in this fight)," Romualdez said, 

"Kaagapay niyo rin po ang [PCG] na kasama niyo sa karagatan at patuloy na magbabantay para inyong kapakanan," said the Speaker in his message. 

(The PCG is your parrtner at-sea, they continue to watch over your rights.) 

"Muli, hindi kayo nag-iisa sa pagharap sa mga banta ng China. Magkaisa tayo at patuloy nating ipaglaban ang ating karapatan na mangisda sa Bajo de Masinloc. Alam natin na ito ay bahagi ng ating teritoryo at pag-aari ng Pilipinas," Romualdez further said. 

(Again, you are not alone in facing China’s threat. Let's unite and fight for our right to fish in Bajo de Masinloc. We know that this is part of our territory and is owned by the Philippines.)