Ni NOEL ABUEL
Kapwa kinondena ng ilang senador at kongresista ang panibangong pangha-harass ng Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) sa tatlong bangka ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Giit nina Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, at House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez at Senador Jinggoy Estrada hindi katanggap-tanggap na gumamit ng water canon at pagbangga ng Chinese Coast Guard sa bangka ng BFAR na magsasagawa lamang ng pamamahagi ng tulong sa mga mangingisdang Pinoy.
Kasabay nito ay nagpahayag ng pagkadismaya si Romualdez sa ginawang pagtutol ng China sa resolusyong pinagtibay ng Kamara de Representantes na tumutuligsa sa iligal na aksyon nito sa WPS.
Iginiit ni Romualdez na ang pag-atake sa mga bangka ng BFAR na Datu Sanday, Datu Bankaw, at Datu Tamblot na nasa isang humanitarian mission ay ikinokonsiderang paglabag sa international norms at direktang humahamon sa soberanya at karapatan ng Pilipinas.
“The use of water cannons and long-range acoustic devices against our vessels, causing significant damage and distress to our crew, is unacceptable and unjustifiable,” ani Romualdez.
“These actions by the [CCG], in preventing our vessels from conducting a peaceful resupply mission to Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), demonstrate a brazen disrespect for the rule of law and established international agreements,” dagdag pa nito.
Ipinaalala rin ni Romualdez sa international community na ang Bajo de Masinloc at nasa loob ng 370 kilometrong exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas na pinagtibay ng 2016 arbitral ruling, na hindi pinapansin ng China.
Iginiit ng lider ng Kamara na dapat tigilan na ng China ang mga iligal na aktibidad na ginagawa nito.
Nanawagan din si Romualdez sa China na irespeto ang soberanya ng Pilipinas at itigil ang kanilang mararahas na aksyon at mahinanong resolbahin ang isyu.
Samantala, kinondena rin ni Romualdez ang pahayag ni Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin na nagbabasura sa House Resolution (HR) No. 1494.
Pinagtibay ng Kamara ang HR 1494 na mariing kumokondena sa mga iligal na ginagawa ng China sa WPS at humihimok sa gobyerno na ipagpatuloy ang ginagawa nitong pagdepensa sa teritoryo ng bansa at paggiit na sundin ang 2016 arbitral ruling.
“China’s rejection of the resolution is disheartening, especially in light of its continued illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea, a clear violation of the Arbitral Award,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez.
Sa panig naman ni Zubiri nanawagan ito kay Pangulong Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. na palayasin na sa bansa ang Chinese Ambassador.
“I urge President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to send the current Chinese Ambassador home. He has done nothing to address the continued attacks of his government on our troops and on our people,” giit ni Zubiri.
“The Philippine vessels that were attacked by water canons are from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and they were providing supplies to Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. This time, China not only caused us great damage to property but they also put Filipino lives at risk,” galit na pahayag ni Zubiri.
Sinabi naman ni Estrada na dapat na igalang ng China ang internasyonal na batas, magpigil, at itigil ang lahat ng pagkilos na magsasapanganib sa kapayapaan at seguridad ng rehiyon.
“The Philippines has consistently advocated for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to disputes, and we call on all parties involved to engage in meaningful dialogue to address the root causes of these incidents. We must pursue avenues that promote cooperation, understanding, and respect for each other’s rights in the pursuit of a stable and secure region,” sabi nito.
“Ang mga aksyon ng China Coast Guard (CCG) ay hindi dapat nangyayari. Ito ay malinaw na paglabag sa karapatang pantao, batas ng dagat at nagpapakita ng kawalan ng paggalang sa soberanya ng Pilipinas. We stand united in condemning these latest aggressive actions taken by CCG. We will not be cowed by any actions to intimidate or undermine our sovereign rights,” dagdag pa nito.
Kasama ring kumondena laban sa ginawa ng China ang US at Japan na nagpahayag ng mariing pagtututol sa maling ginagawa ng China Coast Guard.
“We condemn PRC’s aggressive, illegal actions against BFAR vessels lawfully operating in the EEZ. This PRC behavior violates international law and endangers lives and livelihoods. We stand with our Philippine,” sa tweet ni US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson.
“The US stands with the Philippines and partners in vehemently condemning the PRC’s repeated illegal and dangerous actions against Philippine vessels, including disrupting the resupply mission to the Sierra Madre today. PRC aggression undermines regional stability in defiance of #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” dagdag pa nito.
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