Zubiri sees OK of reso for Marcos admin to raise WPS issue before UN

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has expressed confidence that the Senate will unanimously support and adopt Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros’ resolution urging the Marcos administration to ask the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to call out China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

“I think wala tayong problema d’yan na ipasa yan sa pagbalik natin sa July,” Zubiri said.

While he will seek his colleagues’ support, Zubiri noted that the Senate has a “united stand” against China’s intrusions in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“I already messaged Senator Risa Hontiveros that I am in favor of the resolution. So she has my support. Of course, we’re trying to convince our colleagues pero pagdating sa West Philippine Sea, we have a united stand,” Zubiri said.

“I think the Senate has a united stand on how we want to show our dismay over the continued intrusion of our neighbor in the north in our EEZ…on the continued harassment of our fisherfolk. I think the Senate is one in that…We have a supermajority vote,” he added.

Apart from Zubiri, Senate National Defense Committee chairperson Jinggoy Estrada and Senator JV Ejercito have already expressed willingness to support Hontiveros’ resolution.

Earlier this month, Hontiveors filed a resolution calling on the Marcos administration to urge the United Nations UNGA to call out China’s aggression against Filipino fisherfolk in the WPS.

The opposition lawmaker explained that while a UNGA resolution was not legally binding, it had a significant political weight that showed the will and consensus of the international community.

She asserted that a UNGA resolution had the potential to shape international norms, influence national policies, and provide guidance for the work of other UN organs, specialized agencies, and regional organizations.

In a statement, Hontiveros said she is positive that the majority of her colleagues will support the resolution and she is grateful for Zubiri’s assurance that her resolution will be scheduled for adoption.

“I am pleased to hear the support of majority senators and am striving to get a consensus. This bipartisan effort only means one thing: our country is ready to stand as one against Chinese aggression and the senate, divided as we may be on other issues, stands ready to fight for our national sovereignty,” she said.

“The 2016 Hague ruling must be recognized and respected by all UN member-states, particularly China. The least all of us in government can do is to exhaust all legal, political, and diplomatic means to safeguard our sovereignty. The UNGA vote is one way to do it and I hope we can truly unite and rally behind this cause,” Hontiveros added.

China claims the entire South China Sea even if The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration junked the expansive claim in its July 2016 ruling. The same 2016 Hague court decision also declared the Panatag Shoal a common fishing ground for countries and outlawed China’s aggression against Philippine vessels, including preventing Filipino fishermen from accessing the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal.

Further, the Hague ruling upheld that the Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and Recto (Reed) Bank are all within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone as provided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Philippines refers to portions of the South China Sea as West Philippine Sea. 

Section 1 of Administrative Order No. 29  states that “the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago are hereby named as the West Philippine Sea. These areas include the Luzon Sea as well as the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo De Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.”

China, however, refuses to recognize the Hague ruling to this day.

In December, the Senate unanimously adopted a resolution expressing the chamber’s “disgust” over China's illegal incursions and encroachment  in the WPS. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News