[Translation: It bothers me since it’s as if we’re being hounded. Our government, hopefully, should issue a stronger statement which condemns threats to our sovereignty.]
[Translation: We want to make friends, there’s no question there. For us, and for China, there should be no problem in becoming friends. But we should protect what is ours, what has been ours already. Let’s not allow encroachment or conquest without protest. If we don’t protest, this is what happens — the sovereignty and possessions of each Filipino are no longer respected.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) — An opposition senator on Thursday urged the Senate to conduct an investigation on the presence of Chinese vessels in the country’s territorial waters, including a Chinese dredging ship supposedly without a license to operate.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said she filed Senate Resolution 1035 which called for the inquiry to determine the next course of action to protect the country’s sovereignty.
The military on Monday confirmed there are several Chinese vessels around Philippine-occupied Pag-asa, one of the biggest islands in the disputed Spratlys in the South China Sea. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the vessels were meant to “establish presence” near the island.
The following day, a dredging vessel with nine Chinese crewmen was allegedly conducting operations along Barangay Lagadlarin in Lobo, Batangas. Mayor Gaudioso Manalo said the MV Emerald, which arrived on March 28, did not have a permit to operate.
“Ang purpose daw nila ay mag-dredging at desilting dito sa amin; ibig sabihin, huhukayin yung buhangin. Sabi ko’y wala naman kayong authority from LGU (local government unit) kaya hindi namin kayo papayagan,” the mayor told CNN Philippines.
[Translation: Their purpose is dredging and desilting here, that means there will be digging of sand. I said they don’t have the authority from LGU and we will not allow you to do that.]
Gov’t urged to act on Chinese vessels
Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday called on the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to protect the country from the encroachment of Chinese vessels. She said the government should condemn the Chinese government for these.
“Nakakabahala kasi parang hindi tayo tinatantanan. Sana, iyong ating pamahalaan, magbigay ng mas strong na statement na kinukundena iyong pag-threaten sa ating soberanya,” she said in a chance interview in Atimonan, Quezon Province.
Robredo shares the same sentiments as Senior Associate Justice Antonio Caprio, who urged the government to file a diplomatic protest against the East Asian giant to preserve sovereignty over the country’s territorial sea. He said if the Philippines opts not to file protests, the country “will be deemed to have acquiesced” to Beijing.
Malacañang said the diplomatic protest is underway after the military confirmed the presence of Chinese vessels near Pag-asa, but Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. clarified on Thursday that his office has yet to file a diplomatic protest, but instructed them to “look into this and file ASAP if not too late.”
Robredo said Duterte may keep close ties with China and its President Xi Jinping, as long as he keeps the best interest of Filipinos in mind.
“Gusto naman nating makipagkaibigan, walang kuwestiyon iyon. Sa atin, pati sa Tsina, wala naman tayong problemang makipagkaibigan. Pero sana pangalagaan natin kung ano iyong sa atin, kung ano iyong nasa atin na. Huwag naman sana nating hahayaan na sinasakop tayo, na hindi tayo nagrereklamo. Kasi kapag hindi tayo nagrereklamo, ganito iyong nangyayari-na hindi na nirerespeto iyong pag-aari natin saka iyong soberanya ng bawat Pilipino,” Robredo said.
