PH shouldn’t stop diplomatic protests over West Philippine Sea — solon

MANILA, Philippines — Despite it becoming repetitive, a lawmaker believes that the Philippine government should continue filing diplomatic protests against China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, as it indicates that Filipinos have not forgotten and are still fighting for territorial integrity.

In a briefing on Wednesday, Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said that since the Philippines cannot take drastic military steps, having the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) protest the continuous Chinese incursion would be a good thing to do.

As of July 2023, the DFA said it has filed 97 diplomatic protests against China under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.

Besides, Gonzales warned that once the government stops its protests, other countries supporting the Philippines’ claim may hesitate to back it, too.

“But in the meantime, that’s what we can do eh, hindi naman tayo pwede magpadala rin ng warship natin do’n et cetera. At least, why would itong DFA continuously make diplomatic protests even if viewed by some na wala naman nangyayari?  Because we have to show to the world that we are not relinquishing our claim,” Gonzales told reporters.

(We cannot send warships there, et cetera.  At least, why would the DFA continuously make diplomatic protests even if viewed by some that it has not done anything? To show the world we are not relinquishing our claim.)

“Kasi for us to be silent, halimbawa may ginawang ganito, [tapos] wala na, hindi na natin pinapansin, eh ‘di ‘yong ating mga [fellow] countries who are supportive of our cause will also lose ano na rin, interest, if we ourselves are not showing any interest, then [paano] pa sila?” he added.

(Because if we go silent, for example, something was done to us and we did not react, we did not budge, then our fellow countries who support our cause will also lose interest; if we ourselves are not showing any interest, then why would they?)

READ: DFA: 97 diplomatic protests filed vs China, so far under Marcos administration

Gonzales made this statement after being asked whether or not the panel that he heads, the House special committee on the West Philippine Sea, would be conducting hearings to probe the recent incidents involving the Chinese and Philippine sides.

The lawmaker, however, responded that they have held several hearings but cannot see how an investigation in aid of legislation would be of any help.

“Meron naman kami plano, kaya lang hindi naman tuwing magkakaroon, kasi you know for the past month or so almost every week merong ano eh, incursion eh, whether ‘yong ating mga fisherman are being prevented, ito na naman meron naman na mga warship.  But ano eh, naghi-hearing kami but you have to realize also, very limited din ang nagiging result of our hearing,” Gonzales said.

(We have plans to do hearings but every time we conduct one, because you know for the past month or so, almost every week there is an incursion, whether it’s our fishermen being prevented from fishing, then now there’s a warship.  But if we do a hearing, you have to realize also, the results are very limited.)

“We can receive a briefing, we cannot — ako as chairman of the Special Committee of the West Philippine Sea, I don’t believe we can even conduct an investigation in aid of legislation kasi papaano kung, who are you going to subpoena, to testify from the other side?  ‘Di naman pupunta yan dito,” he added.

(As chairman of the Special Committee of the West Philippine Sea, I don’t believe we can even conduct an investigation in aid of legislation because who are you going to subpoena to testify from the other side?  They would not attend.)

Still, Gonzales assured the public that they were in constant communication with the members of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

Last Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday accused its Chinese counterparts of jamming the signal of the tracking system used by Philippine ships during their recent operations in the WPS.

This briefly prevented these vessels from broadcasting their positions at sea, PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said.

Then on Monday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)  said they will practice maximum tolerance in addressing “any challenges [from] foreign forces” in the WPS.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said they support the PCG and other Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies operating in the disputed waters, following the latest incident at the disputed region.

Last July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) decided that China’s nine-dash line claim which includes huge parts of WPS has no historical or legal basis.

The PCA reached its decision after lawyers backed by the administration of late former president Benigno Aquino III took their case to the Hague.  China, however, did not participate in the discussions despite being asked by PCA and has not recognized the said ruling.

Despite the ruling, China’s incursion over the WPS continued — leading to several incidents and diplomatic protests filed over the years, even as the country enjoyed better ties with Beijing under Aquino’s successor, former president Rodrigo Duterte.