Former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Friday said the solution to the dispute in the West Philippine Sea is "diplomatic and security expertise."
In an interview with DZRH, Teodoro said it is important for the country to rally allies to help implement the 2016 Hague ruling, which recognized the country’s sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
"Maipapatupad natin 'yan kapag ang mundo ay sumama sa boses natin. At papano natin makukumbinse ang mundo na umanib satin? Magmula sa ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) hanggang as buong mundo, 'yan ang trabaho ng ating diplomats," he said in the interview.
(We can enforce it if the world joins our cause. And how can we convince the world to join us? From the ASEAN to the world, this is the job of our diplomats.)
"Kaya sinasabi ko diplomatic at security expertise ang solusyon dito," Teodoro added.
(That’s why I’m saying that the solution to this is diplomatic and security expertise.)
"Kumbinsihin din natin ang buong mundo na sumang-ayon sa'tin para hindi rin mangyari sa kanila ang nangyari satin at sa ibang mga bansa sa ASEAN na naging biktima rin ng pananakop."
(Let us convince the world to agree with us so that what happened to us and to other ASEAN nations that fell victim to colonization would not happen to them.)
According to Teodoro, who is also running for a senatorial seat, it should be China that should be resolving its case over the West Philippine Sea.
"Ang dapat magresolba din … ang Tsina, dahil sila ang humaharang, sila ang nanggugulo, sila ang nananakop. Kaya dapat ang unang galaw ay nasa kanila," he said.
(The one that should resolve this is … China because they are the ones blocking, causing a mess, and colonizing. The first move should be from them.)
"Sa atin naman, nasa atin ang batas, sinabi na ng arbitral award sa atin at ang UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) na ang ating baselines ay sagrado ang exclusive economic zone ay atin," he added.
(In our case, we have the law on our side. The arbitral award and the UNCLOS told us that our baselines are sacred and the exclusive economic zone is ours.)
He made the remarks amid the continued harassment of China over Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea. Last year, the Chinese Coast Guard blocked and water cannoned two Philippine supply boats that are on a resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal.
