Robredo praises ICC complaint vs Xi Jinping

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario (left) and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales (middle) speak at a press briefing on Friday, March 22, 2019, on the complaint they filed against Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Photo by DARRYL JOHN ESGUERRA / INQUIRER.net )

MANILA, Philippines — The complaint filed against China’s XI Jinping before the International Criminal Court (ICC) showed that the Philippines can still stand up to China, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Saturday.

“Itong ginawang ito, parang dinugtungan ulit iyong pag-asa sa ating mga puso, na mayroon pa naman pala tayong lakas na labanan iyong isang malaking entity kagaya ng China,” Robredo told reporters during the Joint Women’s Month Celebration in Tigaon, Camarines Sur.

[This act has extended the hope in our hearts that we have the strength, after all, to fight a big entity like China.]

The Vice President was reacting to the complaint filed by former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on behalf of Filipinos, particularly the fishermen “persecuted and injured” by China’s aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea.

READ: Ex-DFA chief Del Rosario, Morales sue China’s Xi at ICC

Robredo lauded the high-ranking officials’ action against China, noting that there were no progress even if the Philippine won in the arbitral ruling against China.

“Natuwa ako noong nakita ko iyong ginawa, kasi parang dumating kasi tayo sa punto na parang nawawalan tayo ng pag-asa. Sinasakop tayo nang sinasakop, tapos nawawalan tayo ng pag-asa, na wala tayong magagawa,” Robredo said. “Kasi, ‘di ba, nanalo na tayo ng kaso sa arbitration tribunal. Tapos mayroon tayong general feeling na walang nangyari doon sa kaso.”

[I was glad on seeing what they did, becasue we seemed to have reached a point that we were losing hope. We’re being invaded an we have lost hope that we can do something. Remember that we won at the arbitration tribunal. And yet we had a general feeling that nothing happened with the case.]

Robredo was referring to the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that said China had no legal basis to claim historic rights to resources within areas of the South China Sea falling within the so-called nine-dash line.

READ: PH wins arbitration case over South China Sea

Robredo thanked Morales and Del Rosario for giving Filipinos hope that the country could stand up to China.

“At least ito, mayroong mga naglakas ng loob na i-bring to the attention of authorities iyong pagsabi na mali na ba talaga iyong ginagawa o hindi,” she added.

[At least, in this case, some people had the courage to call the attention of authorities to rule on whether what is being done is right or wrong.] /atm

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