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De Lima: Surrendering PH sovereignty over WPS is Duterte's legacy
De Lima: Surrendering PH sovereignty over WPS is Duterte's legacy
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Wednesday chided President Duterte for his continued refusal to assert the country’s territorial integrity and sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) throughout his term, saying it has become his legacy.
De Lima, a vocal critic of the Duterte administration said Duterte’s recent statement that the Philippines cannot win any fight with China especially in the WPS without acting on the issue first only highlights his cowardice.
“As I’ve said before, nobody really expects Duterte to stand against China’s continued incursion in the WPS, but we cannot ignore his continued cowardice and kowtowing to China,” De Lima said.
“We cannot allow Duterte to brainwash Filipinos into believing that we should not assert our country’s right in the WPS because we are supposedly no match against China – not when we are aware of the country’s arbitral victory against China and definitely not when we are only months short into electing the country’s new leaders,” she stressed.
In a recent conference, Duterte reportedly reiterated that he will not go to war against China if there would be tension in the WPS, claiming that the country would not stand any chance against the Asian superpower.
“I would never allow that for as long as I sit President. Hindi na tayo magsali diyan sa... How can we match the firepower of China?” Duterte had said.
De Lima said Filipinos should never emulate Duterte’s continued disregard for the country’s victory at the Hague against China over the WPS.
Recently, she emphasized the need for the WPS issue to be in the top five of presidential, vice presidential and senatorial candidates’ platforms for the 2022 polls as it would prove their priority to protect national interests over their own.
“Nakakadismaya ang ganitong klase ng pinuno na hindi kayang tumindig para sa ating soberanya at pambansang dangal. Nililinlang pa ang taumbayan sa kanyang pagkaduwag (This kind of leader who cannot stand up for the country’s sovereignty and integrity is disappointing. He is also fooling the people for his cowardice). Standing up for our territorial rights is not tantamount to proclaiming war ,” she said.