Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government should send back its ships in the disputed waters of Scarborough Shoal to remove false impressions that the country has abandoned its claim, a lawmaker said Wednesday.
“The impression that we might be sending out there to the international community is that we are giving up our claim. We need to show our flag there,” former military chief and now Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon told reporters in a press conference.
Biazon also heads the National Defense Committee in the House of Representatives.
He urged the government to deploy the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ships which were pulled out on June 15 supposedly due to bad weather.
If needed, the Philippine Navy should also make its presence in the disputed waters, he added.
Biazon also encouraged fishermen to fish in the disputed waters but with escorts from the Philippine Coast Guard.
The Philippine government imposed a fishing ban in Scarborough Shoal on May 16 to July 15 to allow fishery stock to be replenished.
The high profile territorial dispute between Philippines and China started since April 10 when the Philippine Navy accused Chinese fishermen of illegal fishing. Frances Mangosing