Senator Risa Hontiveros on Sunday strongly condemned China’s continued aggression against Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea, following a recent attack that left three fishermen injured near Sabina Shoal (Escoda).

“Our fishermen can barely earn a living in our own waters, and now they’re being harmed? China seems intent on getting what it wants at the cost of not only our territories but also our people,” Hontiveros said in a Viber message.

The senator called on the Philippine government to fast-track defense treaty negotiations with like-minded countries and ensure that Filipino fishermen are never left defenseless.

“More Coast Guard personnel and vessels must accompany them. This initiative must be backed by a clear budget and sufficient support. We cannot leave our fishermen alone and unprotected,” she emphasized.

Hontiveros also stressed that the Marcos administration must urgently strengthen maritime and defense capabilities, warning that past incidents — such as Navy personnel losing fingers, Coast Guard crew suffering temporary blindness, and now fishermen being injured — show the real dangers of being unprepared.

The urgency is echoed in Congress. During a Senate budget hearing for the Department of Transportation last November, Senator JV Ejercito proposed an P8.6-billion budget augmentation to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). This would allow the PCG to acquire new vessels, including a 97-meter multi-role response ship from Japan, three 87-meter vessels for patrols, and around 40 aluminum boats for search-and-rescue operations during typhoons and other calamities.

The recent incident involved the Chinese Coast Guard reportedly using high-pressure water cannons on two indigenous fishing vessels, causing injuries — including bruises and open wounds — to three fishermen and significant damage to the boats, according to PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela.

Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima called the attack “utterly outrageous and deeply concerning,” noting that it put the lives of Filipino civilians in grave danger.

“Escoda Shoal is very much inside our EEZ. This is the first time China directly used water cannons on our fisherfolk. It is high time our Navy defends innocent civilians and expels these Chinese pirates,” she said.

Meanwhile, a group of House lawmakers, including Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega V and Jefferson Khonghun, and Congressmen Zia Alonto Adiong, Rodge Gutierrez and Ernix Dionisio, commended the bravery of the injured fishermen and praised the PCG’s rapid response.

“We express our deepest concern and solidarity with the wounded Filipino fishermen. Their courage in pursuing their traditional fishing grounds despite such threats embodies the resilience of the Filipino people. We pray for their swift recovery,” the lawmakers said, urging the international community to hold China accountable and return to rules-based dialogue.

They also pointed out that such provocative actions violate international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award, which reaffirm the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, undermining regional peace and stability.