Makabayan solons slam Duterte for saying PHL's arbitral win over China just paper fit to be thrown in trash

Members of the Makabayan bloc on Thursday condemned President Rodrigo Duterte for saying that the Philippines' arbitral triumph against China's massive claims in the West Philippine Sea before the United Nations was just a paper fit to be thrown in the trash.

For ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, Duterte's remark was insensitive.

"Sobrang napakainsensitive, kung hindi man napakabalahura, 'yung sinabi ni President Duterte na isang papel lang 'yung desisyon na ipinanalo natin doon sa arbitral tribunal noong 2016. Takot na takot si President Duterte sa galit ng China pero hindi sa galit ng mamamayang Filipino," Castro said at a virtual presser.

(President Duterte's remark that the Philippines' victory in the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea was just a paper is very insensitive. He is afraid of China but not of the anger of Filipinos.)

Castro believes that the President does not care about the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolks who are dependent on the resources in the West Philippine Sea.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate said Duterte's words have a huge implication on the territorial issue because it seems that he is giving up the sovereign rights of the Philippines in the region.

"Napakatindi ng implication nito na nagmumula mismo sa bibig ng isang Pangulo na parang sinusuko niya ang soberanya ng ating bansa despite this historic victory," Zarate said.

(His words have huge implication because as a President, it seems that he is already giving up our sovereignty.)

He also said Duterte should not blame the past administrations and instead use the existing mechanisms to assert the Philippines sovereign rights over the region.

"Hindi pupuwedeng isisi na lang ni President Duterte sa mga nakaraang administrasyon ang mga naging epekto ng pagpapabaya ng nakaraang administrasyon at tuloy-tuloy na pagiging agresibo ng Tsina dahil mag-aanim na taon na po siyang nakaupo sa Malacañang," he added.

(President Duterte cannot blame the previous administrations on the territorial issues because China's intrusions continue as he is in power for almost six years.)

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat echoed Zarate's remark: "Ang paninisi sa mga dating opisyal na nakipaglaban para dito ay hindi ugali ng matinong lider. Dapat na ginawa ng Pangulong Duterte ay manindigan bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas sa karapatang ito na ipinagtibay ng international court."

(Blaming past officials who fought for our victory is not a practice of a good leader. Duterte should instead assert our rights that was strengthened by the international court.)

During his public address late Wednesday night, Duterte said the arbitral win is just paper and he intends to throw it in the garbage basket.

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

This ruling was never honored by China as it continues its activities in the resource-rich region and its vessels refuse to leave the area.

The Philippine government has lodged diplomatic protests against China over its intrusions in the West Philippine Sea.—AOL, GMA News