Days after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported the presence of 42 Chinese militia vessels surrounding Pag-asa Island, local legislators called for unity among Palaweños amid the growing aggression of China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Board Member Jose Antonio Alvarez said that China doesn’t have any respect left despite the continuous protests of the Philippine government.
“Mayroon na naming mga barko ang Tsina na nakapalibot sa Kalayaan, more or less 42 militia ships and some army vessels. Patuloy pa rin ang pagbabalewala nila sa ating claim na sa atin ang WPS kaya nakakadismaya na kahit pinaglalaban natin ang ating teritoryo ay hindi nila ito nirerespeto,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez stressed the need to make a new resolution address to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“I would like to move na gumawa uli tayo ng isang resolution na ipadala uli natin sa DFA na strongly objection the Chinese presence diyan sa ating teritoryo,” Alvarez said.
Meanwhile, Board Member Ariston Arzaga said that the continuous display of aggression and harassment among local Palaweño fishers and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) crew should stop.
“Taking into consideration ‘yung maraming beses tayong nabully sa WPS, pati itong mga fisher folks natin na nabu-bully every time. Sabi nga nga ating president BBM not an inch of the territorial claim ang mababawas sa atin,” Arzaga said.
Board Member Ryan Maminta, on the other hand, called for unity and strength among Palawenos to strongly oppose and fight for the disputed waters of the WPS.
“Nasa 12 nautical miles lang ang layo ang nila sa Pag-asa. Walang kuwestiyon ang decision ng International Court noong 2016. Ang lugar ng WPS, ang lugar ng Pag-Asa at ang Kalayaan ay nasa Pilipinas, nasa Palawan,” Maminta said.
“Dapat nating ituloy-tuloy ang pagtutol sa ginagawa nilang ito kahit na sa mga tinig lang natin ngayon. Sapagkat ‘yung mga tinig natin ay maaring makarating at maaring ‘yung tinig natin ay isang pirasong bato lang na itinapon sa lawak ng karagatan ng WPS ngunit kung ito ay sabay-sabay nating itatapon sa tingin ko magkakaroon tayo ng pagkilos para naming magkaroon ng pagkilala at pagrespeto sa bansang Pilipinas ‘yung kasabay nating mga bansa na may claim diyan,” Maminta said.
According to Maminta, over 80 diplomatic protests have been logged under the Marcos administration. Before the end of his speech, the legislator agreed to set a close-door meeting with Palawan Governor Victorino Dennis Socrates, and officials from Western Command (WESCOM) and PCG Palawan to discuss economic security and measures on how to address the presence of Chinese Coast Guards (CCG) in the waters of Kalayaan Island.
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