MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been urged by senators to take all necessary actions to stop China’s harassment and threats in Philippine waters.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said in a statement that she supports DFA’s lodging of a strong protest against China for their water cannon attack on a Filipino vessel last Saturday at the Ayungin Shoal.
“I support DFA’s lodging of a strong protest against this recent harassment, but I also call on the Department to expedite the filing of a resolution in the UN General Assembly that calls on China to stop this blatant violence in Philippine waters,” said Hontiveros.
“There is also a need for the government to gather our neighbors in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and Malaysia, to stand with the Philippines as these nations also face security threats and assaults from China,” she added.
The opposition senator also demanded that China pay for all the damages, including the Philippine Coast Guard vessel that they attacked with water cannon, as well as to those who were injured from the incident.
“Dapat bayaran din ng Tsina ang pagsira niya sa mga barkong binombahan niya ng tubig, pati na ang pagpapagamot sa mga Pilipinong sinaktan niya. Isabay narin ang pagbayad sa milyon-milyong halaga ng likas-yaman na winasak niya,” said Hontiveros.
“To China, you should be ashamed. Stop behaving like a criminal. Have some decency. It’s not too late to act like a dignified country,” the senator further said.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, in a separate statement, has labeled China’s recent aggression in the contested waters as “inhumane, illegal, and barbaric.”
“We will file and sponsor a resolution calling on the DFA to take all necessary actions to stop these incidents, and update the Senate on the actions taken relative to the recommendations of the Senate in our Adopted Resolution No. 79, considering the non-stop harassment of the CCG on the PCG and the Philippine Navy, and even Filipino researchers in the area,” said Villanueva.
He added: “This harassment by China is inhumane, illegal, and barbaric. Sa manlulupig, hindi ka pasisiil. Sama-sama po nating ipaglaban ang nararapat.”/PN
