Robredo says China’s water cannon attacks must stop, meets on nat’l security with retired top brass

Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday condemned Chinese ships' firing water cannons on Philippine supply vessels in the West Philippine Sea, saying such aggression should never happen again.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier reported that Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked and water-cannoned two Philippine vessels on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on November 16. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said that he had conveyed to China the Philippines’ “outrage, condemnation and protest of the incident.”

"This kind of treatment of Filipinos must stop. WPS [West Philippine Sea] is ours as the arbitration tribunal ruled in July 2016," Robredo said in a statement.

Robredo was referring to the an international tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines in July 2016 when it junked China's nine-dash claim in the South China Sea. In the same ruling, the tribunal ruled that the Spratly Islands, Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and Recto (Reed) Bank are within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“Na-harass na naman ang ating resupply vessels sa Ayungin Shoal. Hindi pwedeng maliitin ang mga Pilipino nang ganito. Ang panalo natin sa arbitral ruling ang sandalan natin para tuloy-tuloy natin ma-protektahan kung ano ang atin," Robredo, a lawyer, added.

(Our resupply vessels have been harassed again. Filipinos cannot be treated in such a demeaning manner. Our win in the arbitral tribunal already provides us the tool we need to protect the areas that belong to us.)

A day before the water cannon attack was announced by Locsin, Robredo and her running mate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, met with retired generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for what Robredo said was a "very comprehensive discussion with retired military generals on major aspects of national security."

"We were able to discuss governance issues, defense spending, internal and external security concerns, civil-military relations in a democratic society, as well as non-traditional security concerns such as climate change, disaster risk reduction and management, pandemic response, cybersecurity, and disinformation," she said.

"The expert views of these generals and respected military strategists are very much appreciated, as we recognize that with threats both present and evolving, we need an institutional, comprehensive, and deliberate approach to national security," Robredo added.

Those retired top brass of the Armed Forces present include: former AFP Chiefs of Staff Generals Eduardo Oban of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and Hernando Iriberri of the Philippine Army; former Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Alexander Pama; former Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Salvador Mison Jr. of the Philippine Air Force; former Navy Vice Commander Rear Admiral Rommel Jude Ong; former AFP Internal Auditor and Spokesperson Major General Domingo Tutaan; and Major General Arnold Mancita of the Philippine Air Force.

Robredo's office said the three-hour discussion with the retired military officials is part of a continuing consultation process which will allow them to assist the Vice President in crafting a responsive national security agenda that balances the need to defend the state and protect the interests and welfare of the people. — BM, GMA News