Philippine legislators boost morale of local troops in Spratlys visit

MANILA, Philippines – ‘Mission accomplished’, was how Akbayan Representative Walden Bello described his visit Wednesday to the disputed Spratly Island.

“We successfully reinforced Philippine sovereignty,” Bello declared.

The Congressman was part of a group of other legislators, and members of the media, who visited the island currently being disputed by the Philippines, Vietnamese and Chinese governments.

“We were also successful in bolstering the moral of troops and civilians based in Kalayaan. In this mission, we found out that when it comes to the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines is united,” Bellow said.

Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that China had nothing to worry about with the visit of some legislators visit to the disputed Spratly Island Wednesday.

“I don’t believe there is any reason for anybody to be apprehensive of anything,” said AFP spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez.

He added that there is nothing “abnormal” with the visit of five legislators to the disputed island, adding that “we treat that as an ordinary visit by legislators to local government units.”

He added that the military was informed of the visit by Representative Walden Bello. But Rodriguez said he was not aware of the details of the one-day trip. A group of reporters were also among the visitors.

“The legislators have their own job to do, I understand that in the context of legislation they are allowed to exercise their responsibility,” said Rodriguez.