Senators join online protest vs. China’s aggression

Three minority senators on Friday joined an online protest condemning China’s continuous aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In an online event held by Pilipinong Nagkakaisa para sa Soberanya (P1NAS) on the Day of Valor, Senators Francis Panglinan, Risa Hontiveros, and Leila De Lima called on the government to assert the Philippines’ rights over the disputed islands in the WPS.

“Dapat tularan ng gobyerno ang Vietnam at Indonesia na hindi nagpapatinag sa aggression ng China, na tumitindig at tumututol sa pananakop na ginagawa nito [The Philippines should be like Vietnam and Indonesia who are not being cowered by China’s aggression],” Pangilinan said in his speech.

As the country honor the soldiers who fought against the Japanese in the World War II, he said that the Philippines is now facing another form of occupation from China.

Pangilinan mentioned the presence of Chinese vessels near the Julian Felipe Reef and the artificial islands built on the WPS, saying this should be opposed by the Philippines.

“Hindi tayo maaaring maging maamong tupa, hindi tayo puwedeng magsunod-sunuran. Hindi tayo pwedeng manahimik sa gitna ng pananakop na ginagampanan at ginagawa ng China,” he said.

(We cannot be like sheeps. We can't be subservient. We cannot stay silent amid the incursions done by China.)

Hontiveros, likewise, encouraged her colleagues not to cease in standing up against China and to assert the Philippines’ rights over the disputed area.

“Huwag nating tigilan ang Tsina. Huwag tayong matakot na manindigan sa tama. Huwag tayong huminto sa pag-sulong ng ating karapatan sa West Philippine Sea,” she said.

(Let us not cease calling out China. We should not fear standing up to what is right. We should continue asserting our rights in the West Philippine Sea.)

In the message that was read on De Lima’s behalf, the detained senator recalled her bill declaring July 12 as the country’s West Philippine Sea Victory.

“Ang tagumpay na ito ay dapat ikinararangal, hindi isinasantabi at kinaduduwag pang ipagmalaki ng gobyerno. Malinaw ang kailangan natin lalo na sa panahon ngayon ng pandemya, isang gobyernong kakampi ng Pilipino at hindi bahag ang buntot sa China,” she said.

(This victory should be celebrated and not neglected. It is clear that what we need in this time of pandemic is a government that stands by the Filipinos, not the one that is coward to China.)

Early this day, Vice President Leni Robredo, ally of the three minority senators, said the Philippine government should use the 2016 Arbitral ruling to “team up” with neighboring countries to stand up against China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands ruled in favor of the Philippines and declared China’s claim as illegal and having no basis under international law. However, Beijing has ignored and belittled the ruling.

On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Philippines will not stop filing diplomatic protests against China unless all Chinese vessels leave Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

The DFA initially filed a diplomatic protest over the presence of at least 220 Chinese vessels near Julian Felipe Reef.

The number of Chinese vessels eventually dwindled to 44.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also issued  a strong statement demanding the withdrawal of the 44 remaining vessels from the Julian Felipe Reef.

Julian Felipe Reef, called Niu'e Jiao by the Chinese, is a boomerang-shaped feature located 175 nautical miles off Bataraza, Palawan. -MDM, GMA News