THE House of Representatives is committed to protecting the territorial integrity of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), especially from the illegal activities and incursions of China against Filipino fishermen and security forces patrolling our exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
This was the assertion made by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who lauded the adoption Wednesday night of House Resolution (HR) No. 1494 condemning China’s “illegal actions” in the WPS and urging the government to uphold and defend sovereign rights over the nation’s EEZ.
“The House is committed to do everything in its power to protect our rights in the WPS. We fully support our troops and our coast guard patrolling our exclusive economic zone against China’s vessels that turn away our fishermen with a legal right to fish in the WPS,” said Speaker Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong member House of Representatives.
“We also commit to enhancing our defense posture in the WPS through legislation and by exercising Congress’s power of the purse. He added that they will have whatever support our Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy needs,” he added.
HR 1494 – adopted by the bigger chamber last Wednesday – consolidates six resolutions with the same topic: HRs 781, 823, 1169, 1201, 1204, and 1293.
It was introduced by Reps. Neptali M. Gonzales II, Rufus B. Rodriguez, Arlene D. Brosas, France L. Castro, Raoul Danniel A. Manuel, Jefferson F. Khonghun, Eduardo Roa Rama, Jr., Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva, Erwin T. Tulfo, Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo, Wowo Fortes, Ray T. Reyes, Roman T. Romulo, Loreto B. Acharon, Emigdio P. Tanjuatco III, Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan, Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez, and the late Edward S. Hagedorn.
It referred to the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling upholding our right over the WPS under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Unfortunately, China continues its illegal activities in the area even if the PCA already ruled that there is “no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line.
“In clear violation of the Arbitral Award, China has built artificial islands in various parts of the West Philippine Sea fortified with airstrips, military installations, hardware, and equipment and has militarized at least three of those artificial islands, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets,” the resolution read.
The Philippines, it continued, “being a firm believer and advocate of the Rule of Law, and despite the continued harassment of China, has resorted to diplomatic tools to address Chinese aggression, including the filing of over 400 diplomatic protests against the latter.”
“Such illegal activities include (a) harassment, shadowing, blocking, dangerous maneuvers, and radio challenges; (b) unilateral imposition of a fishing moratorium; (c) unauthorized conduct of Marine Scientific Research activities; (d) incessant and unlawful restriction of Filipino fishermen from conducting legitimate fishing activities in Bajo de Masinloc; and (e) harassment of Philippine boats in Ayungin Shoal,” the resolution stated.
“China’s actions against the Philippines’ routine and regular rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal has become more dangerous, which include: (a) using military-grade laser lights at the PCG … (b) using water cannons toward Philippine resupply ships … and (c) the blocking of a RORE mission …”
Despite such harassment from China, the resolution said the Philippines should continue to assert and fight for its rights in the WPS “and uphold and implement its hard-earned victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague, the Netherlands.”
“The Philippine government must strengthen its ability to patrol and protect the country’s maritime zones by building a self-reliant defense posture program and upgrading the capabilities of the PCG.”
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