The 1Sambayan coalition has scored President Duterte for supposedly selling out to China following his weak stance in defending the West Philippine Sea from its unlawful incursions.

The President has bowed down to China despite an arbitral ruling that affirmed the country's rights over the territory, according to the group led by former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio.

The opposition group gave the President a dismal grade in handling the West Philippine Sea issue during a virtual forum Friday, July 23, ahead of Duterte's sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA).

"We have seen how President Duterte has been kneeling to give way to the interests of China. We have won the arbitration case which legally secured our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, and yet President Duterte easily threw it away by setting it aside and then labeling it as 'garbage,'" former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said reading the group's statement.

"The President, being the chief foreign policy-maker in the country, has sold out our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to China," Del Rosario said.

According to Del Rosario, Duterte's actions have harmed the livelihood of Filipino fishermen as well as paved the way to China's military expansion in the West Philippine Sea.

"The dire effects on our people are especially felt by ordinary Filipinos such as our fishermen who are basically cut off from their livelihood as Chinese vessels drive them from our seas," he said.

"Moreover, Duterte has turned a blind eye on China as it practically turns the West Philippine Sea into a potential warzone by building military bases and installations," he said.

1Sambayan likewise urged the nation to guard against the President's supposed attempt to give away the country's sovereignty.

"We cannot and must not stand idly by as President Duterte steals our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to give to China what rightfully belongs to the Filipino people," said the former DFA Secretary.

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The former Cabinet member has previously hurled criticisms at Duterte's soft stance towards China despite its illegal incursions in local territorial waters. He pressed Duterte to assert the country's interests in the West Philippine Sea especially after the United Nations-recognized tribunal nullified China's excessive claims to the area in 2016. Recently, he advised voters against choosing a leader "who is good for China."

The President, who chose to forge closer economic ties with China at the start of his term, said he would be the subject of "comedy" if he seek the United Nations' help to address the territorial conflict.

Annoyed at the former official's criticisms, Duterte also rebuked Del Rosario for his supposed role in the country's loss of the Panatag Shoal to China. Duterte alleged Del Rosario committed treason and threatened to file charges against him.

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Tension in the region escalated after the Philippines protested the unlawful presence of hundreds of Chinese ships in its local waters last March. China claimed that the ships were merely taking shelter from the rough sea. Last April, the President declared that while he appreciated China's friendship and donation of coronavirus vaccines, he would not compromise the country's interests in the West Philippine Sea.

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