Senators on Monday, February 13 called on the government not to let China's continued harassment on the country's coast guard go unheard as they slam the latest move of the Chinese coast guard to directly aim a military-grade laser against a Filipino crew on board a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel at the West Philippine Sea.
"I reiterate my call for Malacañang and the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to meet with other claimant countries in the ASEAN as well as member-states of the QUAD to ensure that peace is upheld in our waters," Hontiveros said in a statement.
"We need to establish an updated security framework with our partners in the region as soon as possible. Magpapatuloy ang pambabastos ng Tsina kung hindi sila napipigilan (China will continue its bullying if they cannot be prevented)," she further said.
Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero echoed Hontiveros' call: "The matter, after validation, should immediately be referred to the DFA who can, among others, summon the Chinese Ambassador or file a diplomatic protest."
Hontiveros said she is saddened by the Chinese government's continuing bullying in the West Philippine Sea.
"The Chinese government, if it wants to show true leadership of the region, should act responsibly, and restrain any behavior by its coast guard, navy, and maritime militia that might further inflame the situation in the West Philippine Sea," she said.
"Tensions are already high, but what is China doing instead? She is only getting more brazen by the day," she pointed out.
Hontiveros further said the Chinese Coast Guard aiming if military-grade laser warrants a penalty.
"Her shameless harassment, causing temporary blindness to Filipino crew members, should warrant a penalty. Iligal na nga ang presensya nila sa West Philippine Sea, nanakit pa sila ng kababayan natin (Their presence in the WPS is already illegal and yet they are brazen enough to harm our countrymen)," she lamented.
"This is why our navy and coast guard forces have my full support as they implement proper countermeasures against the repeated unjust and violent operations of Chinese elements in the country's maritime zones," she said.
"Atin ang Pilipinas at karapatan nating magdepensa sa ating teritoryo, mamamayan, at soberanya (The Philippines is ours and we have the right to defend our territory, people and sovereignty)," added the lawmaker.
Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito also slammed the latest incident of bullying from China and slammed Beijing for ignoring the diplomatic protests filed by the country against the continuous harassment of Chinese coast guard in the WPS.
"Sobra na ang China Coast Guard na yan! Yan lang masasabi ko! Kahit anong diplomatic protest di naman pinakikinggan ng China (Those Chinese Coast Guard are just too much! That's all I can say! No matter how many diplomatic protest we file, China refuses to listen)," Ejercito said.
"It's about time the Philippines enters into an alliance with US, Japan, Australia, and other ASEAN nations with territorial dispute with China so that the continuing aggression of China has to stop in the Asia Pacific Region," he said.