Binigyang diin ni House Special Committee on West Philippine Sea Chair at Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali ‘Boyet’ Gonzales II na pursigido ang komite na protektahan ang interes ng bansa sa gitna ng tensyon sa West Philippine Sea.
Sa ikinasang pulong ng komite, sinabi ni Gonzales na seryosong usapin ang sunud-sunod na insidente ng panggigipit ng China sa Pilipinas.
“Tensions are high, and it comes when we are experiencing numerous simultaneous conflicts around the world. The frequent incidents prompted by Chinese vessels in the WPS is a serious cause for concern. As I have previously said, our committee is committed to safeguarding the interests of the Philippines and its people,” saad ni Gonzalez.
Inaasahan na sa pagdinig na makapaglatag ng mga hakbang kung paano haharapin ang isyu sa isang mapayapaang paraan.
Pagsuporta aniya ito sa pahayag ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. para sa pagprotekta sa ating ‘territorial integrity’.
Ibinahagi ng Philippine Coast Guard sa pulong ang video ng pinakahuling insidente sa pagitan ng China at Pilipinas kung saan binangga ng Chinese Coast Guard ang chartered re-supply boat ng AFP na Unaisa May 2 patungong BRP Sierra Madre.
“Since then, the Philippines has strongly protested China’s actions. President Marcos has called on the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to investigate the matter; the Department of Foreign Affairs has filed a diplomatic protest and has summoned the Chinese Ambassador, and leaders of Congress have condemned the incident and called on China to be held accountable for its actions, with our very own Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez saying that ‘the Chinese Coast Guard’s collisions with Philippine boats have placed the lives of passengers in the vessels in danger and regional peace and stability at risk,” sabi pa ni Gonzales.
Kabilang sa mga ahensyang dumalo sa pulong ang National Task Force on the WPS, Department of National Defense, Philippine Coast Guard at Department of Foreign Affairs.
Kasama rin sa mga humarap ang ilang miyembro ng media na nakasakay sa barko ng PCG na BRP Cabra na nag-escort sa Unaisa May at ibinahagi ang kanilang karanasan matapos harangin at banggain din ito ng Chinese militia vessel. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
