Several Senators on Sunday condemned China Coast Guard's (CCG) use of water cannons to block a Philippine vessels that were on a resupply mission near Ayungin Shoal in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, Senate Minority bloc leader Risa Hontiveros underscored that China “has absolute no right” to block and fire water cannons on the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) supply vessels.
“China’s repeated provocations are in complete violation of UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” she said.
“I call on our regional neighbors and the broader international community to join the Philippines in condemning this dangerous behavior,” the Senator added.
Hontiveros expressed hope for the PCG to conduct joint patrols with neighboring nations Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, adding that coordination is a must to stop China’s hostile acts.
The Senator likewise conveyed her expectation for Department of Foreign Affairs to bring up China's interference in different international forums.
“The recently adopted Senate resolution 718, with its precision and specific recommendations, is at their disposal,” she added.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Senate President Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri said the incident is another manifestation of “might vs. right” treatment.
“By its actions, it shows diplomatic duplicity, of preaching about amity, but practicing hostile behavior. Gusto naming makipagkaibigan, pero bakit China ang hirap mong mahalin?” he stressed.
Zubiri said the recent maritime incident is a reaffirmation of the recently passed Senate Resolution 718 which condemned the continued harassment of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.
“Because China contemptuously ignores protests, all the more that we have to rally the world to condemn acts which have no place in a civilized order,” the Senate President added.
In an interview, Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go urged China to stop bullying the PCG crew and Filipino fishermen.
“Hindi porket maliit tayong bansa ay gaganunin na lang tayo. Respeto ang kailangan natin dito,” he added.
Go pointed out that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has been good and has been respectful to China for six years.
He also said that Duterte has recently traveled to Beijing and met Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“Kaya ipaglaban natin ang kung ano ang atin. Kung ano ang napalanunan natin, atin po iyon kahit anong mangyari, lumaban tayo,” the Senator futhered.
