Senators unanimously adopted Resolution 718 that strongly condemns the continued harassment of Filipino fishermen and the incursions in the West Philippine Sea by Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels.
The resolution also listed options that the Philippine government may undertake to assert and secure the country’s sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, namely:
– Bringing international attention to China’s harassment of Filipino fishermen in the Philippine EEZ and its continued violation of the Hague Ruling and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;
– Utilizing international fora to rally multilateral support for the enforcement of the Hague Ruling and raise awareness on the real situation in the West Philippine Sea;
– Engaging like-minded countries in various international organizations, meetings, and other fora to call on China to respect the Hague Ruling and the UNCLOS;
– Subject to necessity and prudence, filing a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly to call for the cessation of all activities that harass Philippine vessels and violate the Philippines’ established rights in the WPS; and
– Pursuing such other diplomatic modes as the Department of Foreign Affairs may deem appropriate and necessary.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the adopted resolution was not a “watered down” version of the original sponsored by Senator Risa Hontiveros which called for the filing of a resolution before the UNGA.
Zubiri said the final resolution expanded the options for the government as the senators reached a consensus after a dialogue with AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Monday.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villsnueva said regardless of political leanings, all senators were in unison in strongly condemning Chinese incursions in the WPS.
Hontiveros said the bipartisan effort reflects the belief that when it comes to matters of national sovereignty, Filipinos will never be bullied into submission.
“In the face of relentless China propaganda since last week, we held our ground. Despite the fake news and lies to stop the adoption (of the resolution), we stood firm,” Hontiveros said.
“The fight against China’s reckless behavior in the West Philippine Sea does not end here. Tuloy ang laban,” she added.
