Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) warned the Akbayan Party-list against its announcement to form a “West Philippine Sea (WPS) bloc,” in the House of Representatives in the 20th Congress, is clearly only against China. The fisherfolk said the plan is “one-sided and fails to recognize the threatening role of the United States in the territorial conflict [in the WPS].”

On May 22, Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña announced the party’s plan to gather “patriotic and pro-WPS lawmakers to protect the seas and the rights and welfare of fisherfolk and maritime frontliners.” They allegedly aim to unite against China’s interference in the WPS.

“While we agree that there is the constant need to amplify the situation in the West Philippine Sea, we question Akbayan’s real motive on its plan to create the West Philippine Sea bloc, because we strongly suspect that Akbayan is partial on the side of the United States, refusing to acknowledge that the U.S. itself is the clear and present danger to our sovereignty and national security,” Pamalakaya second chairperson and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate Ronnel Arambulo said.

The fisherfolk leader reminded Akbayan representatives that the US is no different from China when it comes to interfering with the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk in our territorial waters.

Large Chinese vessels have several times driven away ordinary Filipino fisherfolk from seas within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and traditional fishing grounds, depriving them of livelihood. Likewise, US war games annually and regularly disrupt the livelihood of fisherfolk not only in parts of the WPS but also in the seas east of the Philippines.

An example is the several days imposition of “no-sail zones” in Cagayan, Aurora, Zambales, and other provinces in the Philippines during the Balikatan 40-25 war games from April 21 to May 9. Thousands of fisherfolk suffered greatly and received insufficient compensation for their lost income during activities approved by the Marcos regime itself.

“China is condemnable over violation of a specific maritime law by disrespecting our exclusive economic zone. But our patriotic efforts should extend against the U.S. which has a long history of military interventions and war of aggression waged against us and other countries,” Arambulo added.

Akbayan Party-list’s position on US military interference in the Philippines has been weak and unclear in the past. While it issued statements in 2014 and 2015 opposing the Philippines’ entry into the highly US-sided Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), it did not oppose additional EDCA sites the Marcos regime approved nor the stockpiling of US weapons in Philippine territory like the Typhon Missile System and NMESIS (Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System), nor the intensifying US military intervention in the country and the entire Asia-Pacific.

Meanwhile, from May 26 to May 30, Akbayan, through the Atin Ito Coalition, is set to lead the “third mission” in the West Philippine Sea as part of the so-called promotion of the Philippines’ sovereign rights there. The coalition will hold a concert at sea for “peace” within the area of Pag-asa Island, where artists and singers from ASEAN countries will participate.

The Marcos regime state forces linked with and supported as “civilian counterpart” in the issue of “defending the WPS.” A coalition convenor and Akbayan president Rafaela David said: “We will not sail with warships, but with songs; not with hostility, but with harmony and solidarity.”

This stands in stark contrast with Akbayan Party-list standard-bearer Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ explicit support for the launched Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) involving troops and warships from the Philippines, US, Australia, and Japan in the WPS in recent months. Patriotic and progressive groups condemned the MCA as a US instrument for military interference and blatant trampling on the sovereignty of the Philippines.

Furthermore, Sen. Hontiveros also supports the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) entered into by the Philippines and Japan, arranged by the US. This will allow the entry of Japanese troops and weapons into the Philippines based on the “agreement.”