China can’t stop the enactment of PH Maritime Zones Law, says Tolentino

Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino (File photo from Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — China has no right to stop and veto the Philippines’ passage of a Maritime Zones Law, Senator Francis Tolentino said on Wednesday.

Tolentino, who heads the Senate special panel on maritime and admiralty zones, said a Philippine Maritime Zones Law is not just lawful, but imperative.

“So, uulitin ko, ‘yung pinasa nating batas nung nakaraang linggo — ’yung Philippine Maritime Zones Law — kausap ko na po ‘yung House counterparts natin at nagme-meeting sila ngayon sa lower House,” Tolentino told reporters in a press conference.

(So, I will say this again, the bill we passed in the previous week — the Philippine Maritime Zones Law — I’ve talked with our House counterparts and they are meeting right now in the lower House.)

“Kung ito po ay maaprubahan ng batas, wala pong karapatan ang China na i-veto ito,” he said.

(If this gets approved into law, China has no right to veto it.)

“Ang gusto nila, parang sila ‘yung may veto power. Hindi po. Bilang isang malayang bansa na may sariling kasarinlan, hindi po mapapahinto ng China ang Philippine Maritime Zones Law,” the senator maintained.

(What they want, it seems, is that they are the ones with the veto power. No. Being a free country with its own sovereignty, China cannot stop the Philippine Maritime Zones Law.)

The Chinese Foreign Ministry called the passage of the measure on third reading in the Senate an attempt to “further enforce the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea.”

In a press conference, Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said China noticed the relevant developments on the passage of the bill.

But for Tolentino, China’s remarks meant that they are wary of the Philippines’ Maritime Zones Law.

“Parang ang lumalabas, natatakot silang ipatupad natin ‘yung Philippine Maritime Zones Law. Pag tayo ay tumugon doon sa kanilang hiling na parang, ‘Huwag nyo nang ituloy ‘yan,’ e di para tayong nagpa-veto,” the senator explained.

(What this shows is that they are afraid that we would implement the Philippine Maritime Zones law. If we heed their request for us that is something like, ‘Don’t continue with that,’ it will appear that we let this get vetoed.)

“Di ba ang pwede lang naman mag-veto ng batas natin ay ang Malacañang? Di naman siguro Beijing ang magve-veto,” he noted.

(Isn’t Malacañang the only one who can veto the passage of our laws? Beijing will probably not veto.)

He likewise believes with China’s persistent aggression, there is a pressing need to immediately pass the bill.

As for China’s bullying, Tolentino said he is certain that these instances will “never last.”

In a separate statement, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said China is the only country to think the historic arbitral award on the West Philippine Sea is illegal.

“The Senate will carry on with the enactment of the Maritime Zones Act. No other sovereign country has the right to intervene in our legislative affairs,” she said.