Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero said the government should never give up its claim over the West Philippine Sea, saying the group of islands believed to be rich in marine resources and oil rightfully belongs to the Philippines.
“Atin po ‘yan. ‘Wag nating bitawan,” Escudero said at the recent Kapihan sa Manila Bay, as he cited the unanimous ruling by an international arbitration court based in the Hague that favored the Philippine government in the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the South China Sea that is being claimed entirely by Beijing.
“Ang importante ‘wag lang bitawan ‘yong karapatang ‘yan habang hindi po natin kayang ipatupad or i-enforce ‘yong ating claims sa islang ‘yan,” the veteran lawmaker said.
At the same time, Escudero is asking the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to seek the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as a platform in its talk with China to peacefully resolve the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea so that the Philippines, along with other claimant countries, will have a stronger voice.
“Sana sikapin pa rin ng DFA na makamit pa rin ‘yong regional forum na ‘yon. By sheer number, at least, pwede tayong pumantay sa bansang China na sobrang laki kumpara sa atin kung bilateral lang ang pag-uusapan,” Escudero said.
The ARF, which was established in 1994, has been an effective venue for its members to discuss current security issues and develop cooperative measures that enhance peace and security in the region. It comprises 27 members, namely: the 10 member states of the ASEAN, the 10 Dialogue Partners which include the United States, the European Union, and China, and several other Asian countries.
Escudero said the Philippines should seek the cooperation of other claimant countries through the ARF despite the favorable ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 that shot down China’s claim that it has historically exercised exclusive control over the waters within its “nine-dash line” boundary.
“Sana’y sikapin natin kung paano makuha ang panig ng ASEAN. Kasi kung mapapansin mo, noong kinuha natin po ‘yang The Hague ruling na ‘yan, hindi tayo nag-konsulta sa mga ibang bansa ng ASEAN na mga claimants din,” he said.