Aired (November 9, 2024): KALBORO: 20th Anniversary Special of #ReportersNotebook
Anim na taon na ang nakalilipas nang unang makapanayam ng #ReportersNotebook si Delfin Egana. Emosyonal niyang ikinuwento noon na minsan na raw kinawit ng ilang tauhan ng China Coast Guard (CCG) ang kanyang leeg at sapilitang kinuha ang mga gamit niya sa pangingisda. Pilit silang pinapaalis sa karagatang malinaw na pasok sa Exclusive Economic Zone o EEZ ng Pilipinas.
Makalipas ang anim na taon, may nagbago ba sa kanilang mga buhay? Malaya na kaya silang makapangisda sa Scarborough?
Panoorin ang buong ulat sa video.
Anim na taon na ang nakalilipas nang unang makapanayam ng #ReportersNotebook si Delfin Egana. Emosyonal niyang ikinuwento noon na minsan na raw kinawit ng ilang tauhan ng China Coast Guard (CCG) ang kanyang leeg at sapilitang kinuha ang mga gamit niya sa pangingisda. Pilit silang pinapaalis sa karagatang malinaw na pasok sa Exclusive Economic Zone o EEZ ng Pilipinas.
Makalipas ang anim na taon, may nagbago ba sa kanilang mga buhay? Malaya na kaya silang makapangisda sa Scarborough?
Panoorin ang buong ulat sa video.
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FunTranscript
00:00Today, we are going to undertake an important mission.
00:12I am going to find out how the fishermen I used to work with
00:17have been doing for the past 6 years in Scarborough Shoal.
00:24One of the territories that is being stolen in the West Philippine Sea.
00:31Riding a big boat, we accompanied the group of Delphine and Captain Romel in their journey in Scarborough Shoal.
00:43It is only 124 nautical miles away from Masinlok, Zambales.
00:49Entering the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ of the Philippines.
00:54We reached the ships and speedboats of the China Coast Guard.
01:02One of the speedboats was approached by our boat.
01:08Their task is to catch new fish.
01:12We have bread. Do you want bread?
01:17What do you want?
01:19Fish.
01:20Fish?
01:21Fish.
01:22In a video captured by Reporters' Notebook,
01:25you can see some Chinese Coast Guard who jumped on the boat of the Philippine fishermen.
01:32They chose and led their speedboats one by one.
01:37Even though they have a grudge against the China Coast Guard, they have nothing to do.
01:43We are here to steal our own sea.
01:47But they are more afraid of the hands of the China Coast Guard
01:52because Mang Delphine was sometimes kidnapped and hurt by foreigners.
01:57I don't want to give it to them because I am afraid of my family.
02:08I almost didn't see anything, sir.
02:11I'm hungry. I'm starving.
02:16We are carrying out a patrol of the People's Department of China.
02:23This is a traditional fishing ground, right?
02:26Six years have passed. Has anything changed in their lives?
02:38Are they free to go fishing in Scarborough?
02:43It's strong. The pressure is strong.
03:08After half an hour of travel, we arrived at San Salvador Island in Masimloc.
03:17At the pier, I saw some familiar faces.
03:22They are the fishermen, Ronnie, Eddie, and Delphine's brother, Ernie.
03:27How are our fellow fishermen?
03:29Some of them are okay, but some of them are sick.
03:33Some of them are sick?
03:34Yes, some of them are sick.
03:36I am also sick, sir. I have a fever.
03:43Ronnie accompanied me to the house of the other fishermen who were with us in Scarborough.
03:50We will visit Delphine first.
03:56But I didn't expect to meet her.
04:05This is Delphine, right?
04:11Do you know her?
04:13Delphine.
04:16The former strong and enthusiastic fisherman we were with.
04:20I will be the one to fish.
04:23I will be the one to fish.
04:28He is now a strong man.
04:30Is that where she lives?
04:32No, she lives in Scarborough.
04:34I will be the one to fish.
04:36Even though it is difficult, Delphine has a desire to speak.
04:41I will be the one to fish.
04:43I will be the one to fish.
04:44Even though it is difficult, Delphine has a desire to speak.
04:47I will be the one to fish.
04:49I will be the one to fish.
04:56Do you remember that? Look at that.
04:59Wow!
05:01That's the first fish.
05:03That's the first fish.
05:05Who is that?
05:07That's you.
05:09You are still strong here.
05:13This is the story of Delphine's husband, Gigi.
05:16In 2020, Delphine had a heart attack.
05:19She went up with her.
05:21When she was about to go down, she suddenly fell down.
05:26She was struck.
05:28That's why she was like that.
05:30I couldn't talk to her.
05:32I thought that she would be gone that day.
05:36Delphine was taken to the Rural Health Unit or RHU.
05:40Delphine's condition was not good.
05:43It was difficult for her to speak.
05:45Her right hand was paralyzed.
05:48And often, her right leg aches.
05:51She couldn't walk.
05:53Since then, Delphine has never returned to Scarborough.
05:58One of the things that Gigi blames for what happened to her husband
06:02are the harassment she experienced in Scarborough Shoal.
06:06I don't want to give it to her.
06:07I don't want to give it to her.
06:09Because of my family.
06:17I barely earned anything, sir.
06:19Here, in Scarborough.
06:21We came here twice.
06:23In Scarborough, I didn't earn anything.
06:25That's why I don't want it.
06:27When was that, sir?
06:29This December.
06:31I was caught here in the league.
06:33I don't want to give it to my wife.
06:35I don't want to give it to my son.
06:37Now, they're harassing me.
06:39This kind of bad experience
06:41was never out of Delphine's mind.
06:44They took her belongings.
06:47Do you still remember that?
06:49Yes, her belongings.
06:51And even if it's just a feeling,
06:54Delphine still wants to return to Scarborough Shoal.
06:59While we were talking, she was crying.
07:05She wants to return to Scarborough Shoal.
07:12Let's go there.
07:14Let's fight.
07:16Let's fight there.
07:22Does she still mention Scarborough Shoal?
07:25Yes, she still mentions it.
07:27What does she say?
07:29She says, it's ours.
07:31Until now?
07:32She also says that she's strong.
07:37Because they can't work,
07:39they rely on the help of their children.
07:42I can't leave her like that.
07:44I want to look for a job, but I can't.
07:46She's pitiful.
07:48If she's like that, she'll get dirty.
07:50I won't ask her for help.
07:55And even if they want Delphine to be treated,
07:58they lack in education.
08:00Thank you, God.
08:02Thank you, God.
08:04Bringing Delphine to the hospital is also a challenge.
08:08She still needs to cross the sea
08:10to reach the village of Candelaria
08:12where the hospital where she can see Delphine is located.
08:16Thank you, God.
08:20It's far.
08:22Before, we don't have our own boat to ride.
08:24We can't ride a big boat.
08:26She can't walk.
08:28It's far.
08:30No.
08:32No.
08:34It's here.
08:36I pray that God will help us.
08:50The next day, we cried.
08:53Delphine is suffering from pain in her right knee and foot.
08:58I can't walk.
09:00I can't walk.
09:02I can't walk.
09:05Sometimes, at night, she cries.
09:07Her foot hurts.
09:09Her hand.
09:11It hurts.
09:13That's why we immediately contacted the health worker of Barangay San Salvador
09:18and the local government of Masindo to help Delphine.
09:24To bring her to the hospital,
09:26she needs to be pulled from a boat.
09:31She can't walk.
09:33She can't walk.
09:35She can't walk.
09:37She can't walk.
09:39She can't walk.
09:41She can't walk.
09:43She can't walk.
09:45She can't walk.
09:47With the help of her youngest son, Deji,
09:49who served as a soldier,
09:50she was able to bring Delphine to the hospital
09:52while a boat was pulling her.
09:55An ambulance was on its way.
10:07She's already suffering from her condition.
10:09The lack of proper roads in their area is even more painful.
10:21But for Delphine's family,
10:23this is their longest-awaited opportunity.
10:33Half an hour later,
10:35we arrived in Pampang.
10:42She was helped to get on a boat.
11:03When we arrived in the town,
11:07Delphine was transferred to an ambulance.
11:16We arrived at the hospital shortly after.
11:21Four years have passed.
11:24Finally, a specialist will examine Delphine.
11:28What will be the result of her condition?
11:31Is there still hope that she will recover?
11:34What we will do is,
11:36I will raise your hand.
11:39No problem.
11:41Try to move it.
11:43There.
11:45Try to move it.
11:47Up, up.
11:48There.
11:49But it's painful, right?
11:51It's painful, right?
12:05While I was on my way to the island of San Salvador,
12:09Ronnie mentioned that
12:11they haven't been able to fish in Scarborough for several months.
12:13They haven't been able to fish in Scarborough for several months.
12:17We were able to catch all the fishermen
12:20at the Palace of China on June 15.
12:22They were afraid of what would happen.
12:25Did they try to catch you?
12:27No, not yet.
12:32The fishermen here at the island of San Salvador,
12:36last June,
12:38were the last to go to Scarborough Shoal to fish.
12:40But since China banned the fishermen from going there,
12:44they stopped going there.
12:46That's why the fishermen are here at the Municipal Waters of Masinok, Zambales.
12:52Let's see what they will catch if they stay here at the Municipal Waters.
13:01While we were on the boat,
13:03we were able to recount our trip to Scarborough Shoal in 2018.
13:07If not, we'll just go home.
13:10Let's go home.
13:23Wow!
13:25It's a catfish.
13:27It's a catfish.
13:29Let's catch it.
13:38Here at the Municipal Waters,
13:40only a limited number of fishermen can go there.
13:44They choose a place where they can fish, like this one.
13:49They need to be able to see the bottom,
13:52because they don't have any equipment.
13:54They don't have an oxygen tank.
13:56So, if they can only breathe,
13:58that's the only place they can go and fish to catch fish.
14:08It's been six years since I joined this group of fishermen.
14:13It's still the same.
14:15Almost nothing has changed.
14:17Look at their equipment.
14:19This is a fishing rod.
14:21This is a fishing pole.
14:23These are their goggles.
14:25They're old.
14:27That's the life of the fishermen here at Masinok, Zambales.
14:37Let's go.
15:08What did you catch?
15:10This is a catfish.
15:12Before, it was a scallop.
15:14Now, it's a catfish.
15:16It's like a dwindle.
15:18It's like a dwindle, sir.
15:20It's very difficult.
15:23If you try to go back to Scarborough,
15:25what will happen to you?
15:27I'm not sure what will happen to me there.
15:29I don't know.
15:31Maybe I'll be caught again.
15:33I don't know what will happen.
15:37I don't know what will happen to me.
15:48An hour has passed.
15:50Ronny has passed out.
15:53It's really difficult.
15:55There are a lot of fish here.
15:57Even if we're using it while we're breathing,
16:00it's really nothing.
16:02If you throw it, it's just a fish.
16:04There are a lot of fish here, sir.
16:07It's not like in the West Philippines.
16:09Yes.
16:11You can catch a lot of fish here.
16:13It's really far.
16:15Can you do it in one hour?
16:17It's a lot, sir.
16:19In one hour, you can probably catch three kilos.
16:22Is this one kilo?
16:24Sir, no.
16:26Do we have one kilo now?
16:28I don't believe it.
16:30The last catch of the day
16:31was caught by a group of fishermen.
16:33The reason why we caught fish
16:36is because China has a border.
16:38That's why some people are afraid.
16:40Of course, they don't want to be imprisoned.
16:42That's why they don't have the courage to go there.
16:45It's painful to think
16:47that our fishermen
16:49won't be able to cross our own territory.
16:52You can see on TV
16:54the boat of our fishermen,
16:56the houseguard and the bivouac,
16:58they're just rowing and making holes.
16:59We're the only ones who can do that.
17:07It's sad,
17:09especially that they're only called to the palace of Malacanang
17:12and helped
17:14a few days after their story was aired in 2018.
17:18It's heavy on your heart,
17:20but you have to accept it
17:22because they have power there.
17:26Malacanang encouraged
17:27the Department of Foreign Affairs
17:30or DFA
17:32to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines
17:34about what happened to their group,
17:36Captain Romel and Delfin.
17:38Based on the United Nations Convention
17:40on the Law of the Sea
17:42or UNCLOS,
17:44other countries have the freedom of navigation,
17:46have sovereign rights
17:48in all marine resources
17:51or rich seas inside
17:53and outside the Scarborough Shoal.
17:58They were also given boats.
18:00The problem is
18:02they can't afford it.
18:04Why can't they afford it?
18:07Because of many shortcomings.
18:10When we bought this,
18:12we were estimating the cost.
18:14The budget for this
18:16is around Php 100,000.
18:19Where are we going to get that much?
18:22We have to buy food.
18:24It's hard.
18:26Meanwhile,
18:28when Delfin arrived at the hospital,
18:30he was examined immediately.
18:39Let me examine you.
18:41This is the first time
18:43that a neurologist will examine him.
18:47Try to raise your hand.
18:49Raise this.
18:51This is not a problem.
18:52This is not a problem.
18:54This is not a problem.
18:57Is this painful?
18:59Yes, it's painful.
19:04In his stroke,
19:06the left side of his brain was hit.
19:08That's why his speech
19:10is not clear
19:12and it's hard for him to speak.
19:14As a help,
19:16the hospital provided
19:18a few months supply of medicine for Delfin.
19:20He was also allowed to go under the CT scan.
19:22From Candelaria,
19:24Delfin was again invited
19:26to a hospital in Ibazambales
19:28to undergo a CT scan.
19:33Now,
19:35aside from the medicine,
19:37Delfin also needs physical therapy
19:39so that he can gradually move
19:41his right hand and foot.
19:46But in the group of Delfin
19:48that I was with back then,
19:49there's another person
19:51that I haven't found yet.
19:53The captain of a boat,
19:55Rommel Sihuela.
19:59In the group of fishermen
20:01that I was with back then in Scarborough,
20:03there's another person
20:05that I haven't found yet.
20:07The captain of a boat,
20:09Rommel Sihuela.
20:13We followed them to their place.
20:16Here,
20:17I was accompanied by his son,
20:19John Lester.
20:21Before we went to Captain Rommel,
20:23he accompanied me
20:25to the dock of the boats
20:27in their place.
20:29What you can see behind me
20:31is the mother ship
20:33that we took to Scarborough
20:35in two occasions.
20:37It was very sad in 2018
20:39because this is the only one
20:41that was left in the mother ship
20:43because it was abandoned.
20:45But John Lester
20:47has one more bad news.
20:49On June 1, 2022,
20:51my brother-in-law told me
20:53that he felt something in his back.
20:55My mother ran to my house
20:57and was screaming,
20:59my father, go to sleep
21:01because he felt something.
21:09John Lester and I were accompanied
21:11by Captain Rommel.
21:13I was surprised when I found out
21:15that Captain Rommel passed away.
21:18It's a big loss
21:20that he passed away.
21:22Life suddenly changed.
21:24It's really hard.
21:26Delphine, Ronnie,
21:28and Captain Rommel
21:30experienced harassment
21:32while fishing
21:34in the West Philippine Sea.
21:36We, on the other hand, have the right.
21:38This is a traditional fishing ground, right?
21:40They are among those
21:42who fought for this right.
21:44But due to the rising tensions
21:45in Scarborough
21:47and other parts of the West Philippine Sea,
21:49it's hard for them
21:51to fish here.
21:53Sadly,
21:55while they were hoping
21:57to return to Scarborough,
21:59Delphine became a victim
22:01and Captain Rommel killed her.
22:08Before we left the island,
22:10we said goodbye to Delphine.
22:13You'll get better.
22:15Huh?
22:17You'll get better. We'll go back to Scarborough.
22:22You can do it.
22:24You can do it.
22:30You'll get better.
22:32We'll go back to Scarborough.
22:34Let's go back.
22:36Let's go back.
22:38We'll go back there.
22:43Watch out for the next Saturday.
22:46This was the Mischief Reef
22:48before it became
22:50a military base of China.
22:54To create those artificial islands,
22:57they had to get the corals
22:59along the side.
23:03About 17 coral reefs,
23:05equivalent to how many Tubbataha reefs?
23:07Yes, it's about 8.
23:09About 8 Tubbataha reefs
23:10equivalent to how many Tubbataha reefs?
23:13Let's not be afraid.
23:15Let's not give up.
23:17Let's not give up.