Reelectionist Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned the move of the Department of Energy (DOE) to suspend exploration activities in the West Philippine Sea, calling it "worrisome."

While the senator reiterated that "Philippine ships have every right" to be within the country's exclusive economic zones (EEZ), she said the order to suspend exploration activities of Philippine ships in the WPS "weakens our rights" over the EEZ.

"It is also worrisome that the Department of Energy had to suspend all exploration activities of these Philippine ships due to the disputes over the West Philippine Sea," Hontiveros said on Tuesday, April 19.

"Doesn’t that weaken our rights over our country’s own exclusive economic zone?" Hontiveros added.

The lawmaker questioned why the country has to ask permission from China in conducting such activities. The DOE order, she said, is like an act waiving our rights to our own waters.

"Bakit parang kailangan magpaalam pa sa China (Why does it seem like we have to ask for China's permission)? The DOE’s suspension order makes it seem as though we are waiving our exclusive rights to our own waters," Hontiveros said.

She also brought up the recent incident where Chinese vessels were seen steering close to a Philippine Coast Guard ship in Scarborough Shoal in early March.

The Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest over the incident in late March.

China then asserted its sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal and called on the Philippines to “respect” its vessels activities.

Hontiveros stressed that the Philippines must strengthen its stance over the issue and the government must not waiver in asserting its rights.

"Dapat mas pinapalakas natin ang ating pagtindig, hindi pinapahina. Tayo ang nasa tama, kaya wala tayong dapat ipangamba at ikahiya (We must strengthen our stance, not weaken. We are at the right side, so we have nothing to worry be ashamed of)," she said.