Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, November 10 criticized China anew of being abusive for firing water cannon again at a Philippine vessel carrying provisions to Filipino troops on a remote outpost in the West Philippine Sea.

China has claimed it merely took “control measures” against Philippine ships that it accused of illegally entering its sovereign waters.

“China is an abuser. Dapat ang ginagawa sa abusado, ipinatitigil (Those committing abusive acts should be stopped),” Hontiveros said.

“It is unfortunate that while this recent incident is alarming, it is not entirely surprising. This pattern of abuse is one that China has mastered and will continue to follow without remorse,” she pointed out.

Hontiveros also laments that a time when tensions are high across the world, China seems to be in favor of conflict rather than promote peace.

China, she also noted, repeatedly insists its sovereignty over the whole South China Sea.

“Abuser na, gaslighter pa. We, in government, must double down on our efforts to educate our public and campaign for the one and only truth: Atin ang West Philippine Sea (The WPS is ours),” she said.

Hontiveros also renewed her call for the government to exert all efforts to upgrade the capabilities of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy to maneuver past the Chinese blockade of our troops on Ayungin Shoal.

“Chinese use of force in the Philippines' own EEZ (exclusive economic zone) is contrary to international law,” she lamented.

“This incident should push Congress to finally approve a higher budget for the intelligence funds for agencies that defend our territories,” she also said.

“Kapag mapalakas ang ating mga frontliners sa West Philippine Sea, mapapalakas din ang ating pambansang seguridad (If we can strengthen our frontliners in the WPS, we can also strengthen our national security),” she pointed out.

Modern-day maritime piracy

Sen. Francis Tolentino, likewise, condemened the latest bullying tactics of the Chinese Coast Guard.

"The latest dangerous actions of the Chinese Coast Guard undermines the principle of maritime safety and poses a direct threat to international peace and security,” Tolentino said in a separate statement.

“The continuous breach of China’s obligations under international law covering maritime affairs is hard to explain, while its motivations may be clear. Is this modern day maritime piracy,” Tolentino further said.