Displaying a united front, the Senate issued a resounding condemnation on Tuesday against the persistent harassment faced by Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, allegedly at the hands of the Chinese Coast Guard.
This unified stance is encapsulated in Senate Resolution No. 718, which amalgamated the resolutions presented by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Risa Hontiveros.
The resolution unequivocally states, “It is hereby resolved by the Senate of the Philippines to strongly condemn the continued harassment of Filipino fishermen and the incursions in the West Philippine Sea by the Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels.”
The Senate further called upon the Philippine government to take decisive action in asserting and safeguarding the nation’s sovereign rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. Additionally, China was urged to cease its unlawful activities in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
The combined effort also embraced Hontiveros’ Resolution 659, which urged the government to raise the matter at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Responding to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s objection to bringing the issue to the UN, Zubiri introduced an alternative Resolution 707. Zubiri clarified that this new resolution did not dilute the initial stance; rather, it fortified the government’s position while providing a spectrum of options.
“We provided the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with several options for engaging with our neighbors in the North. Through consensus and consultations, we reached unanimous agreement on these options,” Zubiri stated.
The Senate emphasized the need for continued dialogues between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese government, aimed at securing recognition and respect for the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its EEZ. Furthermore, the Senate called for the formulation of a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, anchored in international law and UNCLOS.
In the event of China’s disregard for these diplomatic efforts and the perpetuation of Filipino harassment, the DFA is urged to escalate the matter on the international stage. The Senate implores the DFA to employ international forums to garner multilateral support for enforcing the Hague ruling.
Additionally, the Senate called for the DFA to collaborate with like-minded nations, collectively urging China to honor the Hague Ruling and UNCLOS. Furthermore, a resolution is proposed to be filed before the UNGA, compelling an end to the harassment of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
The Senate’s collective stance underscores its commitment to defending the rights of Filipino fishermen and reinforcing the country’s sovereign claims in the face of foreign incursions.
