Mga senador, nagkasundong himukin ang pamahalaan na gawin ang nararapat na hakbang upang ipaglaban ang karapatan ng bansa sa WPS

Transcript

00:00 The senators are in support of the resolution they agreed to

00:04 on the continued closure of China in the West Philippine Sea.

00:08 Daniel Manalastas has the story.

00:11 The senators strengthened a resolution

00:15 that will further condemn the continued closure of our fishing ports in the West Philippine Sea

00:22 that are being operated by the Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels.

00:26 The senators also discussed for a few days if they will pass a resolution

00:31 that will further condemn the government's attempt to violate the United Nations General Assembly

00:37 that is taking place in the West Philippine Sea.

00:39 But earlier, the senators agreed to the government's request

00:43 to do the right thing to fight for Philippine sovereign rights in our exclusive economic zone.

00:51 The senators in China called for a resolution

00:55 to stop their illegal activities

00:58 in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Arbitral Ruling of 2016.

01:06 It is very difficult to get consensus from 24 senators

01:12 who have different perspectives, who both love our country.

01:17 This bipartisan effort tells the Filipino people

01:22 that when it comes to matters of national sovereignty,

01:25 we will never be bullied into submission.

01:28 The Philippines is for the Filipinos.

01:31 The rich sea that is the territory of the Philippines

01:36 will never be owned by any foreign country.

01:41 According to the resolution,

01:43 the DFA expects to continue talking to the Chinese government

01:47 to strengthen our rights in our EEZ,

01:50 including the creation of a code of conduct

01:53 based on international law and UNCLOS.

01:56 But if China still does not pay attention to this,

01:59 the continued bullying will only increase the international community's

02:04 actions against China.

02:05 The resolution could be passed in the United Nations General Assembly.

02:10 According to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri,

02:12 the resolution is not watered down.

02:15 Now we gave them several options to choose

02:17 on how to deal with our neighbors in the north.

02:22 And the beauty of this is with proper consensus

02:27 and of course consultation amongst our colleagues,

02:31 we had come out unanimous with these options.

02:34 And we thank our dear colleagues

02:35 that we stand by each other and by our country.

02:39 Regardless of political color.

02:42 Daniel Meranastas for Sabayan

02:44 (upbeat music)