For Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte, the best move to make for the Philippines amid the "bullying and harassment" that it has been experiencing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is to foster closer ties and joint action with its ally-nations.

“I think a simple diplomatic protest right now is not enough,” Villafuerte, the National Unity Party (NUP) president, said in a recent TV interview.

The veteran solon was referring to a recent incident wherein a Chinese vessel directed its military-grade laser at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship in Ayungun Shoal in the WPS. This incident has led to China’s rebuke by the international community.

Villafuerte said it’s time for Manila to take more assertive action "by, for example, taking joint steps with the United States (US), Japan, our Southeast Asian neighbors and other allies meant to demonstrate to China that it needs to stop once and for all its maneuvers in the WPS that smack of 'bullying and harassment'."

"The Philippines cannot fight China on its own, we should promote relationships with our allies ... the US, Japan, our neighbors to make China feel that it cannot continue doing this," he said,

"It's really sad that this thing is happening, that we are being bullied. We should stand up and unite as a nation to tell China to stop this," stressed the Bicolano.

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Villafuerte said the Philippines should consider conducting joint border patrols with other countries that have likewise condemned Beijing’s actions in the WPS

He said joint patrols in the WPS could be conducted not only with the US but with other countries as well like Japan, Australia, and Canada that had all voiced serious concern over the Ayungin Shoal incident.

The Philippines is the owner of a favorable July 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which invalidated China's expansive nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea (SCS). The WPS is located with the larger SCS.