MANILA, Philippines – Opposition Senators Franklin Drilon and Francis Pangilinan on Sunday slammed President Duterte’s approval of the joint investigation between Philippines and China on the incident at Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea, where a fishing boat manned by 22 Filipinos was rammed by a Chinese vessel.
Drilon, the Senate minority leader, said that the joint probe could “weaken” the maritime claims of the country over the West Philippine Sea.
“I am opposed to a joint investigation with China. We should not allow it. The law is on our side. There are clear violations of international treaties and our local laws committed by the Chinese vessel. A joint investigation will only serve their interest, not ours,” Drilon said in a statement.
“A joint investigation would derogate our jurisdiction and prejudice our claim in the WPS,” he stressed.
READ: Duterte wants Recto Bank incident jointly probed by Philippines, China and neutral country
As former justice secretary, Drilon cited that in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration already ruled that China has “unlawfully interfered with the enjoyment and exercise of the sovereign rights” of the country, with respect to the resources of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Recto Bank is part of the EEZ.
Given the decision of the government over the issue, Drilon said that it seems like the country’s law are taking a “backseat” in favor of China.
“There is no need for a joint investigation. The incident happened within our territory and the facts were clearly established. All that is left for the government to do is to implement and execute our laws. Sadly, our laws were put in the backseat in favor of China,” Drilon said.
Pangilinan, who is also Liberal Party president, said that the proposed Philippines-China joint investigation would be disadvantageous to the country.
“It will never be a fair investigation when one is the oppressed and the other is the oppressor. When one is the victim and the other is the perpetrator,” Pangilinan said in his statement.
He also cited that the joint probe was against the fisheries code.
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang joint investigation. Kung na-hit and run ang kamag-anak natin, hindi ba’t magiging katawa-tawa kung kasama sa mag-iimbestiga ang kakampi ng mga mismong nakabangga?” Pangilinan said.
“We urge the government to hasten our own investigation efforts. Uphold the Fisheries Code. Defend our sovereign rights and territorial sovereignty. No to a joint investigation,” he added. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)