MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos will not be cowed, and will continue to resist bullying, opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan said Wednesday as he marked the 75th year of the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
Pangilinan recalled that thousands of Filipinos killed when the Battle of the Philippine Sea erupted on June 19 to 20 in 1944 between the fleets of the United States and Japan over territories.
“The continued deployment of weapons in the West Philippine Sea in the past few years has escalated tensions in the area,” he said in a statement.
“Aggravating the situation is the recent attack by a Chinese vessel against Filipino fishermen, who were left at sea after their boat was wrecked.”
The senator was apparently referring to the June 9 ramming and sinking of a Philippine fishing boat by a Chinese vessel near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippines has already filed a diplomatic protest but some lawmakers still want China to apologize and pafter the crew of its vessel abandoned 22 Filipino fishermen at sea.
“Let no one mistake the Filipino people’s generosity and humility because we — whether in Mindoro, in Zambales, anywhere in the Philippines — will not be cowed into submission by a more dominant military force, and will continue to resist bullying. Ang Pilipinas ay duyan ng magiting,” Pangilinan said.
“We will continue to strengthen alliances and engage neighbor-countries to form a united front of nations committed to maintaining freedom of navigation in the world’s most vital waterways,” said the senator. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)