What's Ours is Ours

 Palawan Court found nine Chinese fishermen guilty of poaching and environmental crimes for fishing within Philippine waters. These Chinese fishermen were arrested after Police found hundreds of sea turtles and other protected species on their vessels. Fines were imposed against them.

Violations and crimes were commited in the disputed waters, again, may taint relations with China aside from the pending territorial dispute in the area. According to Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose, issue is purely a law enforcement matter after China demanded the release of the fishermen and claimed that it is undisputed sovereignty.

Our government should not be threaten thus must be firm instead. The violations as found by Palawan Court should be respected as an independent branch of the government which should be obeyed and executed faithfully.

Our laws were created to protect our rights. People who violate them should be prosecuted in accordance with law regardless of their race, gender, occupation or status in life. We are equal in the eyes of law. It is plain and square that there were violations and the Chinese fishermen should serve the punishment or fine imposed to them.

The decision laid by the Palawan Court has nothing to do with the pending territotial dispute with China. Evidences proved that sea turtles and other endangered species within Philippine waters were illegallly taken by the Chinese fishermen. To note, these are endangered species and should not be taken from their home neither should be taken for business or other illegal purposes. Since hundreds of marine species were taken, the penalties and fines imposed should be greater and higher. For if not, no man will adhere to laws and will repeat the same illegal acts. Giving them leeway would mean our laws and officials are ineffective. It constitutes partiality which gives chance to anyone to act as they please.

Our government, regardless of the existing agreements, treaties and relations involving economic policies and strategies should ensure that our treasures such sea creatures, natural resources as our source of living and mark of our culture are within the Philippine territory are protected and preserved not only by its people but from anyone else. But our government cannot stand without the support of its people. Laws are implemented for the people and against them. While jurisdiction issue must be considered, our rights and sovereighty must also be upheld.

We are being bullied by different countries and we should not let them. We should stand against it, guided by our laws and supported by our rights. For after all, what’s ours is ours.