1Sambayan backs calls to protect the Philippines' sovereign rights over WPS

Newly formed coalition 1Sambayan has announced its support for Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. in defending Philippine territory and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

“We strongly support the invocation by Secretary Lorenzana and Secretary Locsin of the 2016 Arbitral Award of an international tribunal organized under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea affirming the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea and declaring without basis in law and in fact China’s nine-dashed line,” 1Sambayan said in a statement.

“All patriotic Filipinos, regardless of political affiliation, should unite as one in the defense of our sovereign territory and sovereign rights,” it added.

The members of the coalition, which is composed is composed of “pro-democracy” groups and personalities aiming to field a single opposition slate of national candidates, include former Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.  

The group also supports the demand of Lorenzana and Locsin that China’s maritime militia vessels allegedly disguised as fishing vessels immediately leave the EEZ.

“Only Philippine fishing vessels can fish in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines. We call on the entire Filipino people to likewise support Secretary Lorenzana and Secretary Locsin,” 1Sambayan said.

Earlier, Lorenzana reiterated his call that China should stop conducting illegal activities in the WPS and respect the country’s sovereignty.

He made the remark after the Chinese Embassy described Lorenzana's earlier statement  “perplexing” as he asked that the remaining 44 Chinese vessels near Julian Felipe Reef located within the WPS to leave.

China maintained it had a historical claim over the feature, which is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Locsin, meanwhile, said the country should stand up against China or else there will be continued “trenching” on the Philippines’ territory.

The Philippines already filed a diplomatic protest against China over the presence of Chinese militia vessels near Julian Felipe Reef.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has also demanded the withdrawal of Chinese vessels from the WPS, saying its presence was a blatant infringement of the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction.

In 2013, the Philippines challenged China’s legal basis for its expansive claim before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, and won the case in a landmark award in 2016 after the tribunal invalidated Beijing’s assertions.

China rejected the ruling, saying its claims have historical basis and are “indisputable.” -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News