Muntinlupa City Representative Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon took exception to the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) statement calling out the Filipino journalists who were harassed by Chinese naval forces for their “insatiable desire to get ahead in reporting.”
(Photo courtesy of National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea / FILE PHOTO)
The vice chairperson of the House Committee on National Defense, said on Wednesday, April 14, that the AFP should have been more concerned that Filipinos were harassed “in their area of responsibility” instead of taking issue with their coverage of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“There should be an insatiable desire to get ahead in defending Filipinos and Philippine rights,” Biazon said in a statement.
“We should even thank Chiara Zambrano for providing valuable intelligence information on Chinese navy operations just 90 nautical miles from Palawan,” he added.
The video shot by Zambrano’s team, he said, is incontrovertible evidence that can be used by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of National Defense (DND) in planning, strategizing, analysis, and action in the WPS.
He noted Zambrano and her crew were aboard the Filipino civilian vessel and were traveling across various reefs and shoals in the West Philippine Sea close to the mainland of Palawan to see where Filipino fisherfolk have moved their livelihood since the large number of Chinese vessels have overwhelmed their former fishing grounds after the artificial islands built by China were established.
He also pointed out that the Global Positioning System (GPS) readings indicated that the Philippine civilian vessel being used by the news team was about 90 nautical miles from mainland Palawan even as the two missile attack fast crafts were giving chase.
“This manifest bullying by the Peoples Republic of China through the CCG and PLAN as well as the lingering presence of what are believed to be Chinese Maritime Militia is the height of Chinese arrogance and hypocrisy following their persistent call on others to practice respect and promote peace in those waters,” Biazon reiterated.
“The use of grey hulls in denying Filipinos’ passage in the West Philippine Sea within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is conduct that deserves condemnation by the Filipinos,” he stressed.
On Tuesday, April 13, Biazon filed House Resolution No. 1707, in response to this recent incident, where Filipino journalists on board a civilian vessel were denied passage to, and aggressively chased off, Ayungin Shoal by a China Coast Guard ship with bow number 5101.
“The April 8 incident is part of continuing actions of the People’s Republic of China to harass Filipinos in waters where they have the right to pass and exploit under international law,” Biazon said.