At least two senators said they support the proposal to bring to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly the country’s problem with China on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).                    Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara (Senate PRIB Photo)
“It’s one option that we can take into account,” Angara said in an interview with Senate reporters. Earlier, Sen. Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution No. 659 asking the Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to elevate the country’s concerns on China’s harassment of Filipino vessels in the WPS to the UN General Assembly. “But we need to weigh the country’s interest because there are many Chinese businesses here. We also have so many overseas Filipino worker (OFWs) there,” he added. But Angara said going the diplomatic route should still be an option, pointing out that even US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping despite the deteriorating relationship between the two world economies. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t do it pero timbangin natin (but let’s weigh in on it). May role pa rin diplomasya (Diplomacy still has a role),” he said. Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said he also has to study the resolution but hearing the tone of the resolution “I am inclined to support it.” “I have been very vocal about this. It’s not good that they say we are friends. One hand is giving fertilizer to our farmers in Valenzuela City, but on the other hand, they are harassing our coast guard, and fisherfolk,” Ejercito lamented. “We have sent thousands of note verbale to China but they refuse to heed and listen to us,” he said. “We have to exhaust all diplomatic means, including bringing this issue before the UN because the Hague ruling says that those territory belongs to the Philippines,” the senator stressed.