1Sambayan: Duterte's inaction on China incursion betrays Filipinos

President Rodrigo Duterte's inaction and silence on China's continued incursion in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) showed a betrayal of millions of Filipinos, coalition 1Samabayan said Thursday.

In a statement, the newly-formed coalition, composed of pro-democracy groups and personalities in the Philippines, said strong remarks from Congress, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. against

"We urge President Duterte to abandon his pivot to China, summon the courage to assert our victory in the Arbitral Award, resolutely defend our sovereign territory and sovereign rights, and chart a truly independent foreign policy that gives primacy to safeguarding our sovereign territory and sovereign rights," 1Sambayan, a coalition led by former Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, said in its Araw ng Kagitingan message.

"Personal inaction or silence by President Duterte is cowardice and a betrayal of the Filipino people," it added.

The group also condemned China's continued rejection of the 2016 Arbitral Award, which favored Manila's claims to the WPS, as it refused  to pull out the 44 remaining militia vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef, which is within the country's exclusive economic zone.

"This is a serious breach of our sovereign rights under international law, and it deprives our fishermen and people of the resources in our very own EEZ," read the statement.

"We demand that China withdraw its fishing vessels from the Philippine EEZ and respect the July 12, 2016 Arbitral Award issued by an UNCLOS tribunal," it added.

As the country observes Araw  ng Kagitingan on April 9, Filipinos must emulate the courage of ancestors who fought against foreign invaders by defending the country's territorial claims at the WPS, 1Sambayan said.

"We call on the people to continue the struggle for our sovereignty against China’s invasion of our sovereign territory and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea as starkly shown by China’s recent occupation of the Julian Felipe Reef, and the presence of its fishing vessels in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea,"  1Sambayan said.

In addition, the coalition said it will ensure that anyone who will run for presidency in the 2022 polls must have the fortitude to assert the country's territory and sovereignty.

"We in 1Sambayan will ensure that anyone who seeks the Presidency in May 2022 must have the fortitude to defend our sovereign territory and sovereign rights against foreign aggressors in the same way that brave Filipinos, even in the face of superior forces, defended Bataan and the rest of our country in World War II," the coalition said.

President Rodrigo Duterte previously bared that they will resolve the Julian Felipe Reef issue through "diplomatic channels and peaceful means" as it will not be an obstacle in the friendship of the two nations. 

The Chinese government also insisted that it would not permanently stay at The Reef but it insisted that it is completely normal for Chinese fishing vessels to take shelter and fish at the area.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News