Opposition lawmakers on Friday slammed the Duterte administration for its “selective sovereignty” and for “defaulting” on the country’s victory three years ago on its claims in the West Philippine Sea.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros expressed disappointment about how the government “continues to bow to China” even with the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) that favored the Philippines’ claims.
“It has been three years since our historic victory at The Hague. And for three years this government has defaulted on that victory,” she said in a statement.
“This government’s brand of selective sovereignty is on full display,” Hontiveros said.
Landmark ruling
Hontiveros made the remarks as the country observed the third anniversary of the landmark PCA ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
She pointed out that “whenever the international community holds the Duterte government accountable for the human rights abuses under its watch, it falsely invokes sovereignty to avoid them.”
“But when an actual issue of sovereign rights and territorial defense is literally at our shores, it is as silent as a watery grave,” she said.
Hontiveros accused President Duterte of refusing to find ways to stop the harassment of Filipino fishermen and the destruction of marine resources, choosing instead to “kowtow to the Chinese government’s agenda in the region.”
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said China became more aggressive in the South China Sea when the Philippines “pivoted” toward China, seemingly giving the ruling to the aggressor.
Pangilinan cited the June 9 Recto Bank incident as the latest example of China’s “bullying” in the disputed waters.
Pangilinan said it was the Philippine government’s responsibility to uphold the 2016 PCA ruling and protect the country’s territory.
He pointed out that the Philippines stands to gain “cheaper power and electricity, as well as seafood, for our consumers, and more income and food for our fisher folk” if it could harness the oil and gas and protect marine resources in the West Philippine Sea.
De Lima urges unity
For her part, detained Sen. Leila de Lima urged Filipinos to unite in the face of a pro-China government.
“In a time that our national dignity is being stepped upon, where foreigners rob us of our livelihood and where our countrymen are left to die, in a time where the President and his allies are pro-China rather than pro-Filipino, we must stand together as a united nation,” she said.
Hontiveros also called for the government not to allow Filipino fishermen to fend for themselves and to stop the exploitation of the country’s marine resources.
“We reject the false choice that the only options we have are silence or war. And I call upon this government to work with other nations in the region to stem the tide of Chinese aggression,” she said.
But Malacañang has denied allegations that President Duterte was subservient to China’s interests in the territorial dispute over the South China Sea.
“The President is not subservient to China. He is subservient to the interests of the Filipino people,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo in an interview over ANC.
“The President is precisely enforcing that [constitutional] provision on protecting and serving the people,” he added.
Panelo reiterated the Palace’s previous stance that China is in possession of the disputed waters and that the Philippines could never win in a war over its claims.