Querubin vows to boost maritime defense, gets endorsement from Zambales Governor

ZAMBALES—Independent senatorial candidate Ariel Querubin met with fishermen in Masinloc affected by harassment from the Chinese Coast Guard near Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday, vowing to prioritize maritime defense if elected.

In a town hall meeting, local fisherfolk expressed frustration over the continued Chinese presence in Philippine waters.

“Kapag pumupunta kami doon, nabubully kami,” one fisherman said.

Querubin, a retired Marine colonel and Medal of Valor awardee, said the government must allocate more resources to the Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to better protect the country’s exclusive economic zone.

“Ang pagpapalakas natin ay para madepensahan natin yung ating mga mangingisda at madepensehan natin itong exclusive economic zone natin,” he said.

Querubin pointed out that past modernization efforts focused mainly on ground forces due to internal insurgency, leaving maritime defense underdeveloped.

“Nabubully tayo kasi mahina yung ating security and defense forces diyan… napabayaan natin yung Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, at BFAR,” Querubin said.

“Ngayon, yan ang gagawin natin. Kapag pinalad tayo na maging Senador,” Querubin added.

Following his dialogue with the fishing community, Zambales Governor Jun Ebdane formally endorsed Querubin during a local campaign sortie in Iba.

“[Iboto natin sa] Senado yung nag-iisip, yung pwedeng magdeliver, yung magaling din—si Ariel Querubin. Class 79 ito at subok na matatag,” Gov. Ebdane said.

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Photo Courtesy of Querubin Campaign Team