Makabayan solons mark Day of Valor by joining protest vs. China

Members of the Makabayan Bloc were among the activists and opposition leaders who gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. Ted Aljibe/AFP

Progressive lawmakers from the House of Representatives marked the Day of Valor on Tuesday with a call to the public to oppose and condemn China's intrusion in the West Philippine Sea and the country's economic affairs.

Members of the Makabayan Bloc earlier in the day joined the mobilization in front of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City to assert the country's sovereignty and ownership over contested territories in the West Philippine Sea.

Anakpawis party-list Representative Ariel Casilao, during the protest action, urged the public to oppose Chinese imperialism and fight for the country's right to self-determination and national sovereignty, particularly on issues on territory and bilateral agreements.

"Filipinos witnessed Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, and we had a glimpse on the contract for the Chico River Pump Irrigation project, which was only made public due to broad people’s protests and was plagued with provisions inimical to Filipinos,” he said.

"It is imperative that Filipinos, as a people, should be united in viewing China as an imperialist power, so as to generate the broadest resistance movement against its impositions in the country’s affairs," he added.

For her part, Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas rallied women, which she branded as "Gabrielang Pilipina," to resist China's meddling in the affairs of the Philippines.

"Tumitindig ang Gabrielang Pilipina laban sa panghihimasok ng Tsina at pag-abuso sa ating soberanya. Just as how Gabriela Silang fiercely fought the Spanish colonizers, modern-day Gabrielas are resisting the Chinese creep into our waters," she said.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate, meanwhile, urged Filipinos to defend the Philippines and utilize the country's membership in various international bodies to gain support in the goal to keep the Chinese away from the West Philippine Sea.

"As standing members of the Asian Parliamentary Association and the Inter Parliamentary Union, we should use these venues to gather international support to stop the  Chinese militarization of West Philippine Sea,” he said.

"The military might may not be on our side but certainly we can possibly rally a strong and unified legal, moral and diplomatic front among our neighbors," he added.

Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago, on the other hand, slammed the Duterte administration for tolerating China's actions in the West Philippine Sea despite the public's opposition.

"The Filipino people are furious [with] this un-nationalist and un-patriotic government for not taking action in protecting our sovereignty and not heeding the concerns of our fisherfolk," she said.

"If this government won't fight for Philippine sovereignty, then the people will. As the Pag-Asa ng Bayan, let us think about the preservation of our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, let us think about our future at stake," she added. — BM, GMA News