Solon files reso decrying China harassment in Philippine waters

Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon has filed a House resolution to protest and condemn the alleged latest incidents of harassment by China in the West Philippine Sea.

On Tuesday, Biazon, vice chairman of the House Committee on National Defense, filed House Resolution 1707 in response to the incident wherein a Filipino civilian vessel with a television crew on board were allegedly harassed and denied passage to their destination within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“[T]he April 8 incident is part of continuing actions of the People’s Republic of China to harass Filipinos in waters where they have the right to pass and exploit under international law,” Biazon said.

Earlier reports indicate the Filipino vessel was chased by Chinese vessels while on its way to Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), which is about 105 nautical miles from Palawan.

Biazon said the action of Chinese vessels is devoid of any legal basis and it deserves the appropriate action through diplomatic channels.

Still on the incident, Biazon took exception to the remark of the Philippine military on the Filipino journalists' supposed "insatiable desire to get ahead in reporting."

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo had appealed to journalists “to exercise prudence in the course of their job." But he said the military is concerned with the incident.

Biazon said the AFP should be more concerned that Filipinos were harassed in their territory.

“There should be an insatiable desire to get ahead in defending Filipinos and Philippine rights,” Biazon added.

Biazon's resolution also urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to again file a diplomatic protest in this respect as well as consider summoning the Chinese envoy to Manila to explain the continuing harassment of Filipinos by armed Chinese Navy vessels in the region.

On Monday, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was already called to the DFA by acting Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Elizabeth Buensuceso due to the tension in the area.

Buensuceso stressed to Huang the 2016 arbitral tribunal court, which ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s massive and historical claim over nearly the entire South China Sea. —LBG, GMA News