Hontiveros hopes Marcos will stop compromising West PH Sea with China

Senator Risa Hontiveros holds a press briefing in the Senate on Wednesday, January 25. Photo by Daniza Fernandez

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros is hoping that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will stop compromising the West Philippine Sea with China. Hontiveros pointed out that the West Philippine Sea is a territory of Manila. Hence, there should be no compromise.

“Sana tigilin ni presidente mag-wish ng isang compromise sa Tsina sa mga bahagi ng South China Sea na West Philippine Sea. Ang Ayungin Shoal ay bahagi ng ating exclusive economic zone. Walang compromise diyan,” she said in a press briefing in the Senate.

(I hope the president will stop wishing for a compromise with China in parts of the South China Sea that are the West Philippine Sea. Ayungin Shoal is part of our exclusive economic zone. There should be no compromise.)

“Kung ikaw ay may bahay, hindi ka makikipag-compromise sa kapitbahay mo kahit mas malaki pa siya, mas malakas, na siya rin ang nakatira du’n sa bahay mo,” she added.

(If you have a house, you will not compromise with your neighbor — even if he/she is bigger and more powerful — that he/she also lives there.)

For Hontiveros, compromising should only be done in common areas of the South China Sea.

“I wish for a clear, categorical statement from the president. ‘Yung mga compromise-compromise, pwede ‘yan sa mga common areas ng South China Sea pero kapag exclusive economic zone, anong compromise ang hahanapin mo diyan?” she said.

(I wish for a clear, categorical statement from the president. Compromise can be made in common areas of the South China Sea, but if it is an exclusive economic zone, what compromise are you looking for?)

She likewise hoped the president would fulfill his pledge of not surrendering a square inch of the country’s territory.

“So, mas sana patotohanin ni president ‘yung sinabi nila nung simula na he will not surrender one square inch of Philippine territory. I-apply din nila sa tubig, he will not surrender one square water unit of measurement ng West Philippine Sea kasi atin ‘yan,” Hontiveros said.

(I hope the president will fulfill his promise that he will not surrender one square inch of Philippine territory. They should apply that in waters; he will not surrender one square water unit of measurement of the West Philippine Sea because that is ours.)

Hontiveros’ statement came after the Philippine Coast Guard reported that a Chinese Coast Guard drove away a Filipino fishing vessel in Ayungin Shoal, located some 300 kilometers off Palawan.

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JMS