Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday filed a resolution declaring July 12 as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day, in commemoration of the Philippines’ 2016 triumph at the Hague, and in honor of the efforts of former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s administration in securing this landmark legal victory.
“PNoy (President Aquino) is the father of our 2016 victory at The Hague. If not for his unwavering commitment to put the Philippines first, we would not have been awarded a landmark legal decision in international law, which established our credibility in the global arena. Nang dahil sa tagumpay natin sa The Hague, buo ang loob ng international community na kumampi sa Pilipinas sa bawat pagmamalabis ng Tsina (Because of the victory at the Hague, the international community sided with the Philippines over the abuses of China),’’ Hontiveros said upon filing Senate Resolution 762.
The resolution states that after Chinese vessels began excluding Filipino fisherfolk from their traditional fishing grounds in Panatag Shoal and other parts of the WPS (West Philippine Sea), it was President Benigno Simeon Aquino III who led the Philippine government in initiating arbitration proceedings against the People's Republic of China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands, to uphold the country’s sovereign rights in the WPS.
“PNoy was a true patriot. Even when the Philippines was going against the Goliath that is China, he pursued the case merely on the principle that it was the right thing to do. He would often say ‘the Filipino is worth fighting for,’ and this particular fight is undisputed proof that he kept his word,” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros added that having a day to remember and celebrate this win is also a way to counter mis- and disinformation that deliberately diminishes our 2016 victory.
‘’Let’s stop all these lies once and for all through correctly remembering his leadership,” she said.
The resolution also details that the WPS may contain up to 55.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 5.4 billion barrels of oil.
Hontiveros said this is “an abundant source of energy with the potential to secure the energy security and independence of the Philippines for at least the next generation of Filipinos.”
The WPS is also a traditional fishing ground of Filipino fisherfolk, with an annual fish yield of 5 million tons sustaining the economies of coastal communities on the western coasts of Luzon and Palawan.
“Considering the unresolved territorial dispute between the Philippines and China, which continues to prevent and harass Filipino fisherfolk from exercising their traditional fishing rights in the area, it is essential that the spirit of the country’s landmark legal victory in the Hague be kept alive in the hearts of our people through a special day of remembrance,’’ she said.
‘’Ito din ay para hindi natin malimutang magbigay pugay kay PNoy, na siyang naging daan para tunay na tumindig sa Tsina (This is one way of remembering that President Aquino stood up to China). Sana sa pamamagitan ng pag-alala sa pamumuno ni PNoy, ang inumpisahan niyang laban ay maipagpapatuloy ng mga henerasyong susunod pa (Let us hope that coming generations would continue the fight against China that President Aquino started),” Hontiveros added.