The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) condemned the 3-day no-sail zone policy the US and the AFP imposed in Zambales to give way to Balikatan 2025. Fisherfolk in the towns of San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, and Subic were prohibited from going out to sea and earning a livelihood from April 25 to April 27.

According to the group, it is unacceptable that the Marcos regime stopped Filipinos from making a living just to provide security for foreign military forces conducting war games in the province. Furthermore, the live fire exercises endanger the lives, livelihood, and safety of communities in the mentioned areas.

Ronnel Arambulo said this is similar to last year, when a no-sail zone was also declared in fishing grounds in some towns in Zambales for US-Philippine military exercises.

“This was even timed when fish is abundant,” Pamalakaya second vice chairperson and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate Arambulo said. He also said local fisherfolk were not consulted before the fishing ban was imposed.

“So how different is the U.S. from China when it comes to disrupting the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk?” he asked. Arambulo was referring to the reported presence of large Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, which the Marcos regime and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) say violate the rights of fisherfolk and the Philippines’ rights to its exclusive economic zone.

US presence is even more extensive on sovereign Philippine land, air, and waters. American troops swarm different parts of the country. In connection with Balikatan, the Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (Aurora), Command-and-Control Exercise (Quezon City), Multilateral Maritime Exercise (South China Sea), Salaknib (Nueva Ecija), Cope Thunder (Pampanga), and Marex (Cotabato City) were launched.

Direct participation of American troops were reported in Armed Forces of the Philippines combat operations in Aurora and Quezon. Added to these are publicity-driven civil-military operations, such as dental services by the US Navy, in civilian communities in Palawan and Mindanao.

The Balikatan war games will last until May 9. Around 16,000 soldiers from the Philippines, US, Japan, Australia, and United Kingdom are participating. Military officials from many other US and NATO allied countries are also serving as observers in the war games.

Pamalakaya continues to coordinate with its chapters and members in Zambales to monitor and assess the impact of Balikatan and the ban on going out to sea on the livelihood of fisherfolk and residents.