NANGAKO ang Kamara de Representantes na patuloy na poprotektahan ang integridad ng teritoryo ng bansa sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) kaugnay ng iligal na aktibidad at pag-angkin na ginagawa ng China.

Ito ang sinabi ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez matapos na pagtibayin ng Kamara ang House Resolution (HR) No. 1494 na kumokondena sa iligal na aksyon ng China at humihimok sa gobyerno na ipagpatuloy ang paggiit sa karapatan nito sa exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng bansa.

“The House is committed to do everything in its power to protect our rights in the WPS. We fully support our troops and our coast guard patrolling our exclusive economic zone against China’s vessels that turn away our fishermen with a legal right to fish in the WPS,” ani Speaker Romualdez, lider ng Kamara na may mahigit 300 miyembro.

“We also commit to enhancing our defense posture in the WPS through legislation and by exercising Congress’s power of the purse. He added that they will have whatever support our Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy needs,” dagdag pa nito.

Isinama ng Kamara sa HR 1494 ang ang anim pang resolusyon: ang HRs 781, 823, 1169, 1201, 1204, at 1293.

Ang resolusyon ay akda nina Reps. Neptali M. Gonzales II, Rufus B. Rodriguez, Arlene D. Brosas, France L. Castro, Raoul Danniel A. Manuel, Jefferson F. Khonghun, Eduardo Roa Rama, Jr., Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva, Erwin T. Tulfo, Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo, Wowo Fortes, Ray T. Reyes, Roman T. Romulo, Loreto B. Acharon, Emigdio P. Tanjuatco III, Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan, Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez, at ang namayapang si Edward S. Hagedorn.

Iginiit din sa resolusyon ang 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) decision na nagsasabing na ang EEZ na inaangking ng China ay sa Pilipinas alinsunod sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“In clear violation of the Arbitral Award, China has built artificial islands in various parts of the West Philippine Sea fortified with airstrips, military installations, hardware, and equipment and has militarized at least three of those artificial islands, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets,” sabi sa resolusyon.

Sa kabila ng ginagawa ng China, sinabi ng mga mambabatas sa resolusyon na patuloy ang paggiit ng Pilipinas na pangibabawin ang Rule of Law. Nakapaghain na rin ang Pilipinas ng mahigit 400 diplomatic protest laban sa China.

“Such illegal activities include (a) harassment, shadowing, blocking, dangerous maneuvers, and radio challenges; (b) unilateral imposition of a fishing moratorium; (c) unauthorized conduct of Marine Scientific Research activities; (d) incessant and unlawful restriction of Filipino fishermen from conducting legitimate fishing activities in Bajo de Masinloc; and (e) harassment of Philippine boats in Ayungin Shoal,” sabi sa resolusyon.

“China’s actions against the Philippines’ routine and regular rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal has become more dangerous, which include: (a) using military-grade laser lights at the PCG … (b) using water cannons toward Philippine resupply ships … and (c) the blocking of a RORE mission …” ayon pa rito.

Binigyan-diin din sa resolusyon ang pangangailangan na palakasin ang kakayanan ng Pilipinas na maipagtanggol ang sarili nito.

“The Philippine government must strengthen its ability to patrol and protect the country’s maritime zones by building a self-reliant defense posture program and upgrading the capabilities of the PCG.”