Hinimok ni Speaker Martin Romualdez ang Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at iba pang mga bansa na suportahan ang posisyon ng Pilipinas kaugnay sa isyu ng West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sa kaniyang pagharap sa Trilateral Commission, isang non-government organization, nanawagan siya para tulungan ang Pilipinas na tindigan ang naipanalong kaso sa Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Dito aniya kinikilala ang 200-mile exclusive economic zone ng bansa alinsunod sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), habang ibinasura naman ang pag-aangkin ng China sa South China Sea, kabilang na ang mga lugar sa loob ng West Philippine Sea.
“In the South China Sea, the Philippines faces complex challenges to its sovereignty, yet our commitment to a peaceful, lawful resolution remains resolute. We uphold the 2016 ruling as a testament to international law, a beacon that reminds us that might cannot make right, and that the world is governed not by whims, but by principles. We call upon all nations, great and small, to stand with us in defending this order. The Philippines believes that security cannot be built on the foundation of intimidation or unilateralism. True security is forged through trust, mutual respect, and adherence to rules that bind us all equally,” ayon kay Speaker Romualdez.
Kinilala din ng lider ng Kamara ang malaking papel ng ASEAN sa pagpapalaganap ng kooperasyon at rules-based order sa rehiyon.
Diin pa niya na bagama’t mahalaga ang seguridad, ito ay dapat na sabayan din ng pag-unlad ng ekonomiya.
“It is our hope that the Indo-Pacific becomes a region where cooperation prevails over confrontation, where nations build not barriers but bridges, and where peace is the shared inheritance of all. “But what is security without prosperity? What is peace without the promise of a dignified life? Economic resilience and inclusive growth are not mere aspirations; they are the pillars upon which we build societies that can withstand any storm,” dagdag nito.
Nangako rin ang House Speaker na palakasin pa ang ugnayan sa pagitan ng mga bansa para sa isang maunlad at matatag na ASEAN lalo na sa gitna ng iba’t ibang hamon haya ng climate change, teknolohiya at digital evolution at pag-protekta sa dmokrasya.
“We seek to strengthen our economies through partnerships, investments in infrastructure, and a commitment to digital transformation. Together, with the support of allies and friends, we are committed to building a resilient ASEAN that stands as a model for sustainable growth and shared prosperity. Let this vision be our compass, guiding us through this era of global recovery and beyond,” saad pa nito.| ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
