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NI ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II
PARA kay House Speaker Martin Romualdez, napapanahon na para manindigan ang mga bansa kasapi ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hinggil sa usapin ng pinag-aagawang West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sa harap ng mga bumubuo ng Trilateral Commission, isang non-government organization na nagtitipon ng mga pinuno mula sa rehiyon at sa buong mundo para talakayin ang mga mahahalagang usapin, umapela si Romualdez na samahan ang Pilipinas sa panawagan sa China na irespeto ang desisyon ng Permanent Court of Arbitration.
“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,” wika ni Romualdez.
Sa 2016 ruling ng Permanent Court of Arbitration, kinilala ang 200-nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone alinsunod sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, kasabay ng pagbasura sa argumentong “nine-dash line” ng China.
“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 pa kay Romualdez.
Ipinahayag ng lider ng Kamara na may malaking papel ang ASEAN sa pagpapalaganap ng kooperasyon at rules-based order sa rehiyon.
“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,” aniya pa.
Nanindigan rin ang lider kongresista sa kahalagahan ng seguridad sa rehiyon. Pero dapat kaalinsabay ng pag-unlad ng ekonomiya.
“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 niya.
Ipinunto rin niya na ang layunin ng Pilipinas ay makamit ang pag-unlad ng ekonomiya na “equitable and inclusive, na mag-aangat hindi lamang ng iilan kundi pati na ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino.
“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.”
