Senator Risa Hontiveros proposed that July 12th be designated as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day to commemorate the significant 2016 legal triumph of the Philippines against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, Netherlands.
According to Hontiveros, observing this victory annually can help diminish China's baseless territorial claims.
"Commemorating our 2016 victory every year can help weaken China's spurious claims over our own territories. Paulit-ulit ang kasinungalingan at propaganda ng Tsina, kaya't tayo sa Pilipinas, dapat hindi rin humihinto sa pagsiwalat ng katotohanan. Umpisahan na natin sa pagpapapatibay ng kaalaman ng ating mga mamamayan tungkol sa ating karapatan sa West Philippine Sea," the senator said.
The proposed Senate Resolution 674, refiled from 2021, highlights the landmark case's ruling that rejected China's claims to historic and sovereign rights in maritime areas of the West Philippine Sea.
The ruling determined that China's claims contradicted the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and violated its obligations towards the Philippines' sovereign rights over our continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
""Sa kabila ng makasaysayang tagumpay ng Pilipinas noong 2016, patuloy parin ang panghihimasok ng Tsina sa ating EEZ. Patuloy parin ang pagtaboy niya sa ating mga mangingisdang ngayo'y nawawalan na ng kabuhayan dahil sa presensiya ng Tsina sa ating karagatan," Hontiveros expressed.
"Patuloy ang pangha-harass at pambubully sa ating coast guard. Patuloy ang hindi pagrespeto sa ating pambansang dignidad," she pointed out.
The arbitration case was initiated by the Philippine government under President Benigno Simeon Aquino III's administration, in response to Chinese vessels denying Filipino fishermen access to their traditional fishing grounds in Panatag Shoal and other areas within the West Philippine Sea.
Due to China's ongoing aggression in Philippine territory, Hontiveros stressed the importance of the Marcos administration devising measures to further strengthen our claim over the West Philippine Sea.
"Kahit man lang isang beses sa bawat taon, ipagbunyi natin ang West Philippine Sea. Ipagmalaki natin ang tapang at puso ng bawat Pilipinong tumitindig sa Tsina. Ipaglaban natin ang Pilipinas," Hontiveros concluded.
