'Parang away kapitbahay': Bosita on diplomacy in resolving West PH Sea dispute

Metro Manila, Philippines - Conflicts in the West Philippine Sea should be resolved through diplomatic means, said senatorial candidate and retired police officer Bonifacio Bosita.

Bosita expressed his views on the country asserting its rights in the contested area during the “Ang Kandidato: A NewsWatch Plus election roundtable.”

“Para mas madaling maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan iyong opinyon ni Col. Bosita, parang away lang din lang iyan ng kapitbahay. I-maintain mo na lang iyong pag-aari mo at huwag kang magpakita ng intensyon na parang nagpo-provoke ka,” he said.

[Translation: To make it easier for our fellow countrymen to understand Col. Bosita's opinion, it's like just a neighborly quarrel. Just maintain your property and don't show any intention that might seem like you're provoking.]

He said third party interference is unnecessary to prevent regional tensions from further rising.

The Philippines has an existing visiting forces agreement (VFA) with the United States and Australia and a reciprocal access agreement with Japan. The government has also concluded negotiations for a VFA status with Canada and New Zealand and is set to sign a key defense deal with Germany in May.

“Walang ibang hihigit pa. Huwag tayo ipokrito. Gusto ba natin ng giyera? Wala naman tayo kakayahang makipag-away sa China. So best pa rin diplomatic approach at huwag tayo magpasakop. Huwag natin hayaan na may nakiki-aalam at parang ito pa ang naglilikha na ito pa ang nagtataas ng tensyon between China and Philippines,” Bosita said.

[Translation: Nothing is more important than this. Let’s not be hypocrites. Do we want war? We don’t have the capability to fight China. So the best approach is still diplomatic, and we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be subjugated. Let’s not allow others to interfere, as it seems they are the ones escalating the tension between China and the Philippines.]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ruled out going to war with China and pushed for a peaceful resolution to the territorial row. In 2024, the Marcos administration has agreed to a provisional deal for resupply and rotation missions to the Ayungin Shoal amid aggressions from Beijing.

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