Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) – The West Philippine Sea should be an area of economic opportunities and not a place for military flexing by the United States and China, presidential aspirant and labor leader Leody de Guzman said.
De Guzman stressed the West Philippine Sea should be demilitarized and turned into an economic zone to prevent Manila from being a pawn in the “trade war” between Washington and Beijing.
“Kung magkakaisa na ang West Philippine Sea ay matransform into an economic zone para sa kapakinabangan ng mamamayan dito sa buong Southeast Asia at hindi bilang war zone at kung mawawala ang aircraft carrier ng Amerika na pabalik-balik diyan, tingin ko yung China mas luluwag yan. For every action, there is a reaction,” De Guzman told DZRH’s Bakit Ikaw? The Presidential Job Interview on Monday.
[Translation: If we will all agree to transform the West Philippine Sea into an economic zone for the benefit of all citizens here in Southeast Asia and not as a war zone, and if US aircraft carriers will be gone, I think China will soften its stance.]
If elected president, De Guzman also vowed to push for close communication between the Philippine Navy and Filipino fishermen to ensure their livelihood is protected.
“Titiyakin ko na magkaroon tayo ng security sa ating sariling bansa para pangalagaan ang seguridad ng ating mga mamamayan. Tiyakin ang ating mga mangingisda, lalo na sa West Philippine Sea, na magabayan ng ating Navy na makapangisda,” he said.
[Translation: I will make sure that we will patrol the borders of our country to ensure the security of our citizens. We will also guarantee that our fishermen in the West Philippine Sea will be guided by our Navy when they set sail.]
De Guzman also said he will lobby other signatory countries in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas to pressure China to renounce its sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
China refuses to honor the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision that favored Manila over Beijing in the South China Sea case – calling it “illegal and invalid.”
