PINAGTIBAY ng Senado ang isang resolusyon na lumikha ng isang espesyal na komite na tatalakay sa mga hakbang na may kaugnayan sa mga baseline, maritime zone, archipelagic sea lanes, at iba pang mga bagay na nauugnay sa proteksyon ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas.
Si Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva ang nag-sponsor ng panukalang Senate resolution 702 bilang chairperson ng Committee on Rules.
“As an archipelagic state, defining the country’s maritime boundaries through a legal framework consistent with the Constitution and international law is fundamental in asserting sovereignty and jurisdiction to protect our national territory and marine resources,” ayon kay Villanueva sa resolusyon.
“Now, at a critical time when the Philippines continues to be vulnerable to unlawful activities which threaten its territory, sovereignty, including the livelihood of our people and rights over natural resources, it is compelling for the Senate to prioritize the formulation of policies that will aid in strengthening our country’s defense posture and protecting the general welfare of the Filipinos,” dagdag pa niya.
Binanggit ng majority leader na sa kabila ng pagsasabatas ng Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law, may mga legal gaps na nangangailangan ng karagdagang batas ng mga komprehensibong hakbang na malinaw na magtatatag.
“In fulfilling the constitutional mandate of protecting the country’s territorial integrity and upholding its sovereignty, the Senate shall create a special committee to be known as the ‘Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones,” ayon pa sa mambabatas.
LIZA SORIANO