Three senators on Thursday condemned the recent incident in Ayungin Shoal, where Chinese Coast Guard vessels harassed two Philippine boats that were en route to deliver supplies to the military.
The incident was unveiled on Thursday by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., who revealed that the Philippine boats were blocked and water cannoned on Tuesday by the Chinese Coast Guard ships.
No one was hurt in the incident, according to Locsin, and a protest has been raised to Huang Xilian, the Ambassador of China, and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing.
Senator Risa Hontiveros supported the move by the foreign affairs secretary and said she "vehemently" condemns the incident.
"This is an outright and unacceptable violation of our sovereign rights and jurisdiction," she said in a statement.
Senator Richard Gordon also echoed the same sentiments.
"We strongly condemn the illegal acts committed by elements of the Chinese Coast Guard against two Philippine supply boats en route to replenish food supplies of our military personnel stationed at Ayungin Shoal," he said in a statement.
Both senators called on Malacañang to act on the incident.
Gordon said the president should "spearhead" the protection of the country's troops. Hontiveros, on the other hand, called on Malacañang to condemn the incident.
"Let us show our military personnel, the very same people who risk their lives for our country, that we will always defend them," she said.
Meanwhile, Senator and vice-presidential aspirant Francis Pangilinan also slammed the incident, before stressing that the country should not be sold to China.
"Hindi rin tayo payag na ibenta ang pinakamatatayog na bahagi ng ating ekonomiya sa mga negosyante ng mainland. Malampaya sa Udenna, telecoms sa Dito. Power and telecommunications are strategic concerns for any country," he added.
(We cannot allow the parts of our economy to be sold to businessmen from the mainland. Malampaya to the Udenna, telecoms to Dito. Power and telecommunications are strategic concerns for any country.)
