Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has sought the help of fellow parliamentarians from Thailand--which he called the "big brother" of the Philippines--when it comes to Chinese "interference" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Rodriguez did so during the Philippine House delegation's participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Manama, Bahrain.

Rodriguez posted on Facebook Sunday, March 12 a video of his actual message and appeal to the Thai delegation during the event.

"We'd like to seek the support of Thailand against China. China has been interfering, it has been intruding to our [WPS]," the veteran solon from Mindanao said.

"That is why we are very hapoy because Thailand is a big brother to us, Thailand is always a very good--of course with Indonesia. And  Thailand, with your support to parliament, we are going to say to China, no more, respect the international law. That's why we are very happy that you are with us this afternoon," he told the Thai panel.

Rodriguez highlighted that the Philippines already has a favorable ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, but said that China has been "disregarding" it.

"Everyday, there is a violation of China, intruding our 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). And so we seek your support as parliamentarians," he said.

Rodriguez said of China: "They're claiming up to our beaches...and the International Tribunal said that they have no right, they have no basis of their alleges historic claim because now under the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), all rights to waters come from the land, 200 miles...and they're so far away. Hainan is very far 600 nautical miles, that is the problem."

He further noted that the Philippines already has the support of the international community on the issue, particularly from countries like United States (US) and Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Rodriguez is the chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.