Robredo: Allowing Chinese to fish within PHL's EEZ 'unconstitutional'

Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday said allowing Chinese fishermen to fish in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is clearly a violation of the 1987 Constitution.

"Sa term pa lang, kaya nga tinatawag na exclusive economic zone kasi 'yung ating Konstitusyon, very specific 'yung provision ng batas na 'yung exclusive economic zone for the exclusive use and enjoyment 'yun ng Filipino citizens," Robredo said in an exclusive interview on Unang Balita.

"Pag sinabi mong papayagan mong mangisda doon 'yung hindi mga Pilipino, labag 'yun sa Konstitusyon. In fact 'yun din 'yung kahilingan ng mga mangingisda. Sana nakakabwelo na sila sa buhay doon kasi talagang talong-talo sila," she added.

Robredo's remark came after President Rodrigo Duterte's noted that the Philippines cannot assert its sovereignty over the country's EEZ. Duterte has said Chinese fishermen will continue to fish even within the Philippines' EEZ as Manila and Beijing are "friends."

Robredo has the similar position with Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio that the "use and enjoyment" of marine resources in the Philippines' EEZ shall be reserved exclusively to Filipinos as stated in the Constitution.

Duterte has called the senior magistrate "buang" (crazy) for his statement. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News