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Ni ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II
KASABAY sa pagkabahala sa presensya ng Chinese vessels sa bahagi ng Philippine Rise, nanawagan si Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez sa lahat ng mga dayuhang bansa na respetuhin ang coastal territory ng Pilipinas.
Diin ni Romualdez, ang Philippine Rise ay malinaw na bahagi ng karagatan ng bansa at ang pagkakaroon ng hindi awtorisadong pagpasok dito ng alinmang foreign vessels ay isang uri ng paghamak sa soberanya ng Pilipinas.
“The Philippines will not compromise its territorial integrity or allow any encroachment upon its sovereign rights. Philippine Rise is unquestionably within our EZZ, and we will assert our authority to safeguard our maritime domain,” pahayag ng lider ng Kamara.
“The Philippine Rise is a vital marine resource rich in biodiversity and potential for scientific research, as well as economic opportunities for our country. We must protect and harness its full potential for the benefit of the Filipino people,” dugtong pa ni Romualdez.
Panawagan din ng lider-kongresista ang pagtalima ng ibang estado sa international laws at protocols, kasabay ng giit na hindi katanggap-tanggap ang hindi awtorisadong pagsasagawa ng research activities ng Chinese vessels sa Philippine Rise.
“We call on all nations to respect the rights of coastal states, uphold the principles of international law, and refrain from any activities that undermine regional stability and maritime security,” hirit pa ng Leyte lawmaker.
Kumbinsido naman ang House Speaker na ginagawa ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang mga kaukulang hakbang para protektahan at ipaglaban ang interes ng bansa at siguruhin na nasusunod ang rule of law sa rehiyon.
“The Philippine government remains steadfast in its duty to protect our sovereignty and preserve our national interest. We will work closely with relevant agencies to address this issue effectively and assert our rights within the bounds of international law,” sabi pa ni Speaker Romualdez.
“The Philippines will not back down or yield an inch of its territory. We will continue to assert our rights over the Philippine Rise and any other maritime areas that belong to us under international law,” pahabol ni Romualdez.
