DEPUTY Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Lone District Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II today said that the government, under President Bongbong Marcos Jr., will continue to file diplomatic protests against the illegal incursions of China to show the whole world that the Philippines is not surrendering its claim over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In the regular press briefing at the House of Representatives, Gonzales said that the recent illegal activities of China in the Philippines’ territory and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) should not go unnoticed.
“We have to show to the world that we are not relinquishing our claim. Kasi for us to be silent, halimbawa may ginawang ganito, wala na, hindi na natin napansin, eh di yung ating mga countries who are supportive of our cause will also lose interest if we ourselves cannot show any interest,” Gonzales, also the chair of the House Special Committee on the WPS.
He said that for the past months, China has been conducting so many illegal activities both in the WPS territory and the EEZ, but the Philippine government should just continue filing diplomatic protests.
Gonzales said these protests serve as notice to the whole world that the Philippines is not relinquishing an inch of its territory or EEZ.
He said as chair of the Special Committee on the WPS, he is always in close contact with the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS).
“Some might view, wala naman nangyayari sa diplomatic protest na ‘yan because in fact by this time … baka ang dami nang diplomatic protest and wala pa rin talagang action,” Gonzales said.
“But in the meantime, that’s what we can do. Dahil kasi, at least, itong DFA can continuously make diplomatic protests even if viewed by some na wala naman nangyayari,” he added.
Davao Oriental Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario, who was also present during the press briefing, said one of the things discussed in Gonzales’s committee is to have a sustainable presence to assert the Philippines’ rights in the WPS.
“When you look at it, it’s always a show of size and strength. But given our archipelagic feature here, what is needed: numbers, agility and adaptability to the changing scenarios there,” Almario said.
“And that is something that our local manufacturers are able to do. Now that the President and the Speaker were made aware of these. And they are pleasantly surprised that we actually have that kind of capability to help in our WPS advocacy,” he added.
For South Cotabato Rep. Peter Miguel, diplomacy is still key to deescalate the tensions in the WPS.
“I just hope na magkaroon talaga ng diplomatic talk. Siguro ‘yun ang pinakamaganda with this incursion, to me its bullying kasi panahon na ng diplomasya,” Miguel said.
China has been allegedly jamming signals from Philippine vessels under the Coast Guard that has been reportedly hindering patrols in the WPS.
