The House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning China’s “unlawful aggression” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and underscoring the need for the government to pour funding into military and civilian maritime patrol forces to achieve a credible defense posture and a capable Coast Guard.
House Resolution 1494, adopted in a plenary session, urges the government to assert and protect the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the area as upheld by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
“The Philippines should continue to assert and fight for its rights in the West Philippine Sea and uphold and implement its hard-earned victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague, the Netherlands,” the resolution read.
HR 1494 declared that China’s actions against the Philippines’ routine and regular rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal have become more dangerous due to these incidents: the use of water cannons aimed at Philippine resupply ships last August; and the blocking of a RORE mission which led to a collision between Chinese Coast Guard Ship (CCG) and a contracted Filipino resupply boat last October.
“The Philippine government must strengthen its ability to patrol and protect the country’s maritime zones by building a self-reliant defense posture program and upgrading the capabilities of the PCG,” the resolution said.
“Now, therefore, be it resolved, by the House of Representatives, to strongly condemn China’s illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea,and urge the Philippine government to assert and protect the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.”
Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House is committed to protecting the territorial integrity of the Philippines in the WPS, especially from the illegal activities and incursions of China against Filipino fishermen and security forces patrolling the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“The House is committed to do everything in its power to protect our rights in the WPS. We fully support our troops and our Coast Guard patrolling our exclusive economic zone against China’s vessels that turn away our fishermen with a legal right to fish in the WPS,” Romualdez said in a statement.
“We also commit to enhancing our defense posture in the WPS through legislation and by exercising Congress’s power of the purse. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine Navy will have whatever support they need.”
He pointed out that their commitment was manifested in their adoption of House Resolution 1494, condemning China’s “illegal actions” in the WPS and urging the government to uphold and defend sovereign rights over the nation’s EEZ and continental shelf.
The resolution said China’s illegal activities include harassment, shadowing, blocking, dangerous maneuvers, and radio challenges; the unilateral imposition of a fishing moratorium; unauthorized conduct of marine scientific research activities; incessant and unlawful restriction of Filipino fishermen from conducting legitimate fishing activities in Bajo de Masinloc; and harassment of Philippine boats in Ayungin Shoal.
It added that China’s actions against the Philippines’ routine and regular rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal have become “more dangerous.”
“The Philippines should continue to assert and fight for its rights in the West Philippine Sea and uphold and implement its hard-earned victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, the Netherlands,” the resolution said.
It also emphasized that the Philippine government must strengthen its ability to patrol and protect the country’s maritime zones by building a self-reliant defense posture program and upgrading the capabilities of the PCG.
On Thursday, the PCG reported the successful rescue of five people following an alleged collision between their boat, the FBCA Ruel J, and a bulk carrier in the waters of Paluan, Occidental Mindoro.
Coast Guard Sub Station (CGSS) Sablayan immediately coordinated with the boat owner in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
A rescue operation was launched near Pandan Island, Sablayan, with the distressed boat being towed by a fishing banca. With Vince Lopez
