Senator Franklin Drilon. FILE PHOTO
Senate President Franklin Drilon on Tuesday warned against confronting China over the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), saying that rule of law and peaceful resolutions on the conflicts should prevail.
“Ang ating posisyon natin diyan ay ilaban natin ang ating pinaglalaban na issue diyan sa West Philippine Sea sa pamamagitan ng mapayapang pamamaraan,” Drilon said in an interview over Bombo Radyo when asked about the United States’ reported involvement in the ongoing conflicts between the Philippines and China.
(Our stand is that we will continue to fight for the West Philippine Sea through peaceful means.)
“Ang ibig kong sabihin, kung ano ang klaseng tension diyan, o kung anong klaseng sitwasyon po ay dapat po ang rule of law ang mangibabaw at ang behavior ng bawat bansa sa West Philippine Sea ay dapat po ay in accordance with international law,” he said.
(Meaning, the rule of law should prevail in whatever tension or situation we have there and the behavior of each country claiming ownership of the West Philippine Sea should be in accordance with international law.)
Drilon said the Philippines should not engage in armed conflict, citing the armed forces’ lack of capability to confront China.
BACKSTORY: Drilon says PH can’t go on arms race with China
“Hindi po tayo puwede sumali sa mga ganoong sitwasyon at mahina po ang ating sandatahang lakas para iharap natin sa Tsina. Pero malaki at matibay po ang ating paninindigan sa dispute na ito, at sa pamamaraan na tahimik ay kaya natin, at dapat natin, (resolbahin) ito,” he said.
(We can’t participate in that situation because our armed forces are not strong enough to confront China. But we are firm on our stand on this dispute and we can resolve this through peaceful means.)
Drilon remained confident that the conflicts could still be resolved in the international tribunal arbitration where the Philippines has a pending case against China.
By the end of the year, he said, the international tribunal will probably decide on the case.
President Beningo Aquino III earlier said that the Philippine military and commercial aircraft will keep flying over disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea despite China’s warnings to its planes.
READ: Aquino: PH to defy China