Malacañang has taken a stronger stance against China in the West Philippine Sea following the reported presence of Chinese vessels in Kota and Panata Islands which are occupied by the Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Chinese should get out of Philippine territory although he has yet to get confirmation about the report.
He assured that the government would be filing another diplomatic protest against China should they refuse to get out.
“(We are filing) Because they cannot be intruding in our territorial property. (By filing) They will know that we are against it. That we will not allow it. That we will not tolerate such presence in our territory,” Panelo said. “They should (go away). They have no business being there,” he added.
Panelo said that the Philippines will not stay quiet if the country’s sovereignty is being infringed. “While we remain friendly with respect to trade relations, we will always assert sovereignty when it is being impaired or assaulted,” he said.
“Oh, it is (an assault). If they continue to be present in our territory then it is an assault to our sovereignty,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Philippines need not beg to the Chinese government to stop encroaching in exclusive fishing areas for the Philippines and from harassing local fishermen in these areas, Hugpong ng Pagbabago chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said yesterday.
Mayor Duterte said it is for the concerned government units and national government agencies to carry out their respective mandates to protest Filipino fishermen in areas in the West Philippine Sea that are clearly part of the Philippine territory.
Duterte said local government units and local government agencies concerned should guarantee that the rights of Filipino citizens are protected in areas that clearly belong to the Philippine territory.
“We do not need to beg to the Chinese government if the areas are ours,” she said. “As a Filipino, I do not need to appeal to the Chinese government. Ang may problema diyan ay iyong LGU and national government agency in-charge of regulating fishing in the said areas,” Duterte stressed.
Duterte is confident that the attempt of Otso Diretso senatorial bets to go to Scarborough Shoal on board a jet ski will not hurt friendly relations between the Philippines and China. Administration senatorial bet Jiggy Manicad had earlier said that the Otso Diretso “grandstanding” could endanger the friendly relationship between China and the Philippines.
In a separate interview, reelectionist Sen. JV Ejercito shared Duterte’s views on the Otso Diretso stunt, saying that he will not interfere if that is the way the opposition candidates want to win support for the coming elections.
Ejercito, who is ranked 10th to 13th in poll surveys, said he does not need to resort to various gimmicks to get the attention of voters. “ I rely on my performance. I am quite, I am confident naman because of my performance,” he said as he boasted of passing two landmark measures – the Universal Health Care Law and the creation of the Department of Housing – during his six-year stint as senator. (With a report from Ben Rosario)