Lacson on Duterte admin's action on Recto Bank incident: Kulang at malamya

Senator Panfilo Lacson is not satisfied with the action of the Duterte administration regarding the ramming by a Chinese vessel of a Filipino fishing boat in the Recto Bank two weeks ago.

"Kulang at malamya. Alam naman natin ang attitude ng Pangulo 'di ba na matigas? Maski nga pari, mga European countries, Canada, sa mga ibang issue. Kung kukumpara natin 'yun, 'yun nga, relatively speaking, malamya at kulang na kulang ang tugon ng ating Pangulo mismo rito," Lacson said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV on Monday.

According to Lacson, there seems to be an economic reason behind this as Duterte is trying to preserve the good relations between Manila and Beijing.

"Ang ma-speculate lang natin siyempre inaalala rin ng Pangulo 'yung... may economic reason dito eh. Kasi pinipilit niyang i-preserve 'yung bilateral relations natin sa China. Ayaw niyang mabawasan 'yung magandang goodwill dahil nasimulan na niya ito," Lacson said.

"Pero at what cost? Ang tanong natin: Ano ba mas matimbang? 'Yung ating sovereign rights na tinatawag o economic upliftment ng ating mga kababayan?" he added.

Lacson also reiterated his apprehension to the joint investigation of the Philippines and China on the maritime incident, noting that the Philippines has exclusive economic right on the marine area.

"Nag-e-express lang tayo ng apprehension kasi nga merong umiiral na, 'yung sa UNCLOS, 'di ba? Sovereign rights tayo doon sa Recto Bank. At kung papayagan natin 'yung joint investigation, parang effectively nagshe-share tayo ng jurisdiction. Baka naman maapektuhan 'yung ruling noong 2016," Lacson said, referring to the July 2016 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidating China's massive claims in the South China Sea.

"Ang aking panawagan lang, kung 'di naman mapipigilan 'yung pagsasagawa ng joint investigation with China eh i-address lang 'yung issue na 'yun. Liwanagin lamang na di natin wine-waive 'yung sovereign rights over Recto Bank," he added.

Malacañang has said Duterte already accepted the offer of China for a joint investigation with the Philippines into the incident.

According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the President welcomed and accepted the offer “to determine what really transpired in Recto Bank and find a satisfactory closure to this episode.” —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News