Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Tuesday lauded Mr. Marcos’ expression of concern over China’s aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) before delegates gathered at the US-ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
“PBBM’s statements before US and ASEAN leaders and the world reflect his strong defense of our country’s economic and security interests in waters and sea features that are legally ours and which China is unabashedly and persistently claiming,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The President’s vigorous assertion of our rights deserves the support of all Filipinos,” he added.
On Monday, the Chief Executive raised the issue of China establishing a so-called nature reserve around Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a traditional fishing ground of Filipinos about 120 miles off Pangasinan and Zambales.
“The national leadership, including the Cabinet, should support the President’s energetic defense of our national interest in the West Philippine Sea. We should not pursue policies that will undermine such a stance, like reintroducing e-visa for Chinese tourists,” Rodriguez said.
The President told the US-ASEAN Summit that “On the South China Sea, it is regrettable that incidents continue to occur in the West Philippine Sea that have put the lives of Philippine personnel and the safety of our vessels and aircraft at risk.”
Meanwhile, Rodriguez also urged the President to scrap plans to reintroduce e-visas for Chinese nationals seeking to visit the Philippines.
“After criticizing the Chinese in ASEAN, it will not look good before our neighbors and the world that we want to entice Chinese nationals to visit our country by making it convenient for them to secure tourist visas,” he said.
