KINONDENA ng mga senador ang pangha-harass ng Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) sa Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sa Ayungin Shoal.
Sinabi ng PCG na ang Chinese vessel na may bow number 5205 ay nagtututok ng laser light sa PCG vessel na BRP Malapascua noong Pebrero 6 na rotation at resupply mission ng Philippine Navy.
Ayon kay Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, hindi katanggap-tanggap ang mga gawain na panghahamak sa pagka-Pilipino at paglagay sa panganib ang kapakanan ng Sandatahang Lakas at PCG.
“Their act, which reportedly caused temporary blindness to the crew members is loathsome as it put them in harm’s way and jeopardized their safety. This provocative action should be stopped. We urge the Department of Foreign Affairs to lodge a diplomatic protest and stand firm in defending the country’s sovereign rights under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” anang mambabatas.
Iginiit naman ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros na pagmamay-ari ng Pilipinas ang Ayungin Shoal.
“Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw na ang Ayungin Shoal ay teritoryo ng Pilipinas. Hindi ‘yan sa Tsina. Huwag nila tawagin ng Tsinong pangalan. Ayungin is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The UNCLOS affirms this.
The wider international community recognizes this. It is only China’s authoritarian government that seems to think otherwise,” ani Hontiveros.
Hinimok naman ni Sen. JV Ejercito ang pamahalaan na palakasin ang depensa para protektahan ang karagatan ng bansa.
“I am calling once more on the national government to expedite the modernization of our armed forces and the strengthening of our defense posture. Given these recent incursions, we need to put up a naval force that can project a more respectable presence in the West Philippine Sea.”
Iginiit naman ni Sen.Alan Cayetano na hindi dapat ipagwalang bahala ang nasabing problema at kinakailangang magkaroon ng mahusay na istrarehiya hinggil dito. LIZA SORIANO