Sinamantala ni Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez ang pagkakataon na hilingin sa Thailand ng suporta upang kilalanin ng China ang Arbitral Ruling na naipanalo ng Pilipinas noong 2016.
Sa sideline ng 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly sa Manama, Bahrain, nakausap ng Philippine delagates ang miyembro ng Thailand Parliamentary upang suportahan ang pagsusulong ng “International Maritime Law” at “The Rule of Law of the Sea” sa West Philippine Sea.
Aniya, sa kabila kasi ng pagkapanalo ng Pilipinas sa Arbitral Ruling ay binabalewala pa rin ito ng China at patuloy na nanghihimasok sa 200 mile-Exclusive Economic Zone ng bansa.
“We have won in The Hague International Tribunal and China does not obey that, is disregarding that. And everyday, there is a violation of China, intruding our 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone. And so we seek your support as parliamentarians. We’re just too glad that the international community, the United States and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, they have signified their international law, maritime international law, and they are saying that China, because of the decision, there is no such thing, as nine-dash line,” saad ni Rodriguez.
Dagdag pa ng House Committee on Constitutiinal Amendments chair na itinuturing na isa sa mga “big brother” ng Pilipinas ang Thailand kaya’t ang suporta mula sa Thai Parliament ay malaking tulong upang iparating sa China na dapat itong sumunod sa international laws.
“That is why we are very happy because Thailand is a big brother to us, Thailand is always a very good–of course with Indonesia. And Thailand, with your support to parliament, we are going to say to China, no more, respect the international law. That’s why we are very happy that you are with us this afternoon,” dagdag ni Rodriguez.
Sa panig naman ng Thai Parliament, sinabi nito na makasisiguro ang Pilipinas ng kanilang paggalang at suporta sa International Maritime Law at rule of law sa karagatan. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
