Presidential aspirant Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday said he finds China’s demand for the removal of the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal “unacceptable,” citing the need to respect the rule of law.
“I find this demand not acceptable. The Ayungin Shoal is part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands---an integral part of the Philippines,” said Go, who also sits as a vice chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation.
“It belongs to us and it is ours to protect and use for the benefit of our people,” the administration candidate in the May 2022 presidential elections also stated.
Go also stressed that no one can legally prevent the Philippines from exercising its own rights to sovereignty and urged the government to stay the course in asserting the country’s national interests.
The senator, however, urged all stakeholders to exercise restraint and avoid aggravating the tension.
“I urge all stakeholders to exercise restraint and avoid increasing the tension and, instead, abide by our commitments and duties under international law. This is how responsible members of the international community should rightly comport themselves,” Go said.
“Ipaglaban natin ang ating karapatan sa maayos at mapayapang paraan (Let us fight for our rights in an orderly and peaceful way),” he stressed.
Go joined other presidential aspirants and lawmakers who have also asserted the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend.
Vice President Leni Robredo, who is running for president in the upcoming polls, said the issue is already non-debatable considering that the Philippines already won in the 2016 ruling of the Hague tribunal stating that the country has sovereign rights over the area.
Among the senators who have issued statements criticizing China were Senators Joel Villanueva, Grace Poe, and Francis Tolentino who all insisted that Beijing cannot dictate what the Philippines can do within its maritime territories.
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, another presidential aspirant, for his part called for reinforcement at the grounded ship instead of removing it from Ayungin Shoal.
Lacson also expressed doubts that the Philippines entered into any agreement with China and committed to remove the grounded ship, as what ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian had claimed.