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Ni Estong Reyes
SINUPORTAHAN nina Senador Sonny Angara at JV Ejercito ang panukala ni Senador Risa Hontiveros na idulog sa United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) ang isyu sa panghihimasok ng China sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Naunang naghain si Hontiveros ng Senate Resolution No. 659 na humihiling sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) na idulog sa UNGA ang problema ng bansa sa panghihimasok at panggigipit ng China sa WPS.
“It’s one option that we can take into account,” ayon kay Angara sa interview.
“But we need to weigh the country’s interest because there are many Chinese businesses here. We also have so many overseas Filipino worker (OFWs) there,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ni Angara na isang magandang hakbangin na idaan sa diplomatic route ang isyu katulad ng ginagawa ni US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sa pakikipagpulong kay Chinese President Xi Jinping kahit umiinit ang sigalot ng dalawang bansa.
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t do it pero timbangin natin (but let’s weigh in on it). May role pa rin diplomasya,” aniya.
Para naman kay Ejercito, kanya itong pag-aaralan ang resolusyon pero nang madinig ang tono ang panukala, malamang kumiling siya sa pagsuporta dito.
“I have been very vocal about this. It’s not good that they say we are friends. One hand is giving fertilizer to our farmers in Valenzuela City, but on the other hand, they are harassing our coast guard, and fisherfolk,” ayon kay Ejercito.
“We have sent thousands of note verbale to China but they refuse to heed and listen to us,” aniya.
“We have to exhaust all diplomatic means, including bringing this issue before the UN because the Hague ruling says that those territory belongs to the Philippines,” giit pa niya.
