​​​​​​Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Sunday renewed his call for the Philippine government to assert its rights over the country’s maritime assets in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) which is key to addressing hunger, poverty and high power cost.

As the country commemorates the 5th year of the country’s historic win in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague, Pangilinan stressed the need to protect the country’s rights over its waters in the WPS which is home to vast marine resources—from oil and gas reserves deep beneath its surface—to the fishes and other seafood that could support the country’s needs.

“The international tribunal ruling seals our stake on the disputed waters. But we have to continue asserting our rights and safeguarding our territory. We have to be united as a nation,” said Pangilinan, who is president of the Liberal Party.

Pangilinan further lauded the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Filipino fishermen patrolling portions of the waters and bravely standing up against the repeated incursions of Chinese maritime authorities in the area.

“Despite the bullying and harassment against our fishermen, they remain relentless in asserting their freedom to sail and earn their livelihood for their families. They should not be deprived of the resources that are ours,” he said.

“There must be freedom of navigation in our exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This is one way of enforcing the ruling,” the lawmaker stressed.

Pangilinan also said he agrees with scientists’ observation that the WPS may also hold the key to biomedical breakthroughs and help further studies about ecosystem changes and measure its impact on humans and the environment.

“The resources of the WPS offers hope of alleviating the Filipinos from their woes and this should not be taken away from us,” he said.

In a separate statement, the Liberal Party honored former President Benigno Aquino III for his leadership in steering the country’s victory against China during his term.

“In the wake of PNoy’s death, the Hague ruling is as much a promise as it is a reminder of what good, brave, strong governance can yield,” the LP said in a statement.

“As we commemorate this landmark ruling, so too, do we commemorate the kind of leadership that makes victories like this possible: A leadership founded on the belief that ‘The Filipino is worth fighting for,’ as opposed to one that cowers and yield to bullies,” they stressed.