MANILA – By now, fishermen should be allowed to fish in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) without asking permission from China.
This was the statement made by Senator Leila de Lima Thursday, urging the government to enforce and assert the arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea territorial row to allow fishermen to “exercise their rights.”
“We don’t need the permission or authority of China for our fishermen to go there and exercise their rights which have been explicitly recognized by an international arbiter court,” de Lima said in a press conference.
She urged President Rodrigo Duterte to be careful with his pronouncements and moves insofar as the WPS is concerned.
“Pronouncements by state officials, particular head of state himself can be binding. He (the President) might not realize that he has made statements that China will just be too happy to invoke against us in that case,” she said.
“Of course the case is over, the decision has been made although it is not being respected by China, but we should be in the period of enforcement and assertion of the ruling. But are we doing it? We’re not,” she added.
She stressed that the triumph gained from what has been described as a “monumental” case should not be wasted as the world has recognized the Philippines for pursing it.
The senator further said that this victory should not be put at risk “just to appease China.”
She admitted that while it was difficult for the Philippines to win over China “militarily”, it was no reason to allow this type of oppression.
“Both the Philippines and China are state parties to the UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of Sea). We invoke that because that’s the rule of law. We adhere to peaceful methods of settling disputes and that is the most peaceful method of setting dispute, going to tribunal,” de Lima said.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella earlier assured that President Duterte would not make agreements with China that would be detrimental to the country’s interest in the WPS.
Abella made the assurance after Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned that the President could face impeachment if he concedes the sovereignty of Scarborough shoal. (PNA)/RMA/ANP