Escudero suggests sole West Philippine Sea spokesperson

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero in May 2023.  (Joseph B. Vidal/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said there should only be one spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea issue to prevent confusion and chaos regarding the matter.

Escudero noted the many officials are currently talking about and giving reactions to issues surrounding the disputed waters.

“Marahil ang pinakamagandang simula para dito ay pigilan muna ang iba’t ibang nagsasalita kaugnay sa issue na ito dahil kung mapapansin mo … nagsasalita ang Coast Guard, nagsasalita ang Secretary of National Defense, nagsasalita ang Chief of Staff, nagsasalita ang iba’t ibang tagapagsalita ng pamahalaan. Ang huli kong naririnig magsalita ay DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs),” he said during an interview with Bombo Radyo on Monday.

(Perhaps the best start for this is to stop the various speakers on this issue because, if you notice … the Coast Guard is speaking, the Secretary of National Defense is speaking, the Chief of Staff is speaking, and different government spokespersons are speaking. The last I heard speaking was DFA.)

READ: Focus on China in West PH Sea territorial dispute stumps Escudero

“Sana i-funnel nila sa isang tagapagsalita lamang kaugnay ng lahat ng issue na bumabalot sa West Philippine Sea pagdating sa posisyon, paniniwala, at gagawin ng executive branch upang sa gayon hind maging dahilan ito ng dagdag pang kaguluhan at pag-init sa issue na ito,” he added.

(I hope they funnel it to just one speaker about all issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea regarding the executive branch’s position, beliefs, and actions so it does not cause more turmoil and discord on this issue.)

Escudero believes all disputes can be resolved through dialogue, urging the government and China to discuss how to deescalate the situation in the West Philippine Sea.

Nearly two weeks ago, the media reported that China has empowered its coast guard to detain foreign “trespassers” of its “borders.” The new policy will take effect on June 15.

READ: PH wins arbitration case over South China Sea

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo earlier said China’s rule is unacceptable as it has “no legal basis.”

“What’s even more worrying is that it does not only affect the Philippines; theoretically, it will affect every country in the world,” he emphasized last week.

In early May, two China Coast Guard (CCG) ships blasted water cannons at two Philippine Coast Guard vessels carrying out a humanitarian mission on the West Philippine Sea.

The CCG’s repeated hostile behaviors within Philippine waters happen even if the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Netherlands ruled on July 12, 2016, that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea and that China’s sweeping “nine-dash line” is invalid.