Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has urged the Marcos administration to prioritize the interest of the Filipino people amid proposals for a joint energy exploration in the West Philippine Sea between the Philippines and China.

As a matter of principle, Go said he is open to the proposal as long as the nation's territorial integrity is not jeopardized and that it would benefit the people.

“In principle, wala naman po akong tutol na magkaroon tayo ng (I have no qualms if we have a) joint exploration with China as long as hindi po apektado ang (it won’t affect the) territorial integrity ng bansa (of our country) in doing so. Ibig sabihin unahin po natin ang interes ng mga kababayan natin,” he said.

“Kung ano po ang atin, atin (what is ours is ours). What is due to our country, due to our fellow Filipinos dapat ibigay po sa atin (should be given to us),” stressed Go.

But Go said he is leaving it up to the Marcos administration to decide whether or not to pursue the PH-China joint exploration in the WPS.

“Kung makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan, hindi pwedeng tayo ang malugi... Kung makakatulong naman po sa ating ekonomiya, bakit hindi, pero siguraduhin po nila na pabor po sa atin o pantay (If it would help our people, we should not be at the end of the stick...if it would help our economy, why not. But we should make sure the agreement would be equal),” Go said.

“Nasa administrasyon na po 'yan kung gusto nilang ipagpatuloy itong joint exploration with China (It’s up to the administration if they want to pursue a joint exploration with China),” he stressed.