The government should persist in asserting its claim and defending its interests in the West Philippine Sea. Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada made the call as the country celebrates its 7th anniversary of the Hague’s historic ruling favoring the Philippines on its dispute with China on the South China Sea. “It was not only a victory for the Philippines but also a triumph for international law and the principle of sovereignty,” Estrada said in a statement on July 12. “Seven (7) years have passed since that historic ruling, yet we continue to face challenges and threats to regional stability, maritime security, and freedom of navigation. As a nation, we must persist in asserting our claims and defending our interests in accordance with international law,” he said. Estrada stressed that the support the Philippine government received from the international community is a testament to “our shared commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring freedom of navigation.” “It reinforces our resolve to protect the Philippines' territorial and sovereign rights,” he said. “We must continue to assert our claims and defend our rights with utmost diplomacy,” added the senator. Estrada said it is imperative for the nation to remember the sacrifices of Filipino fishermen, who rely on the bounties of the sea for their livelihoods, as well as the brave men and women in the uniformed service who patrol the waters in the West Philippine Sea “It is our duty to protect them and ensure their safety. We owe it to them and to future generations to remain steadfast in working towards a future where disputes are resolved peacefully, maritime resources are protected, and the rights of all nations are respected,” he stressed. Sen. Francis Tolentino, for his part, said it is important also for the government to be consistent in its stand on the West Philippine Sea in all its approaches. “We should be consistent in all approaches—diplomatic, engagement with other allies, and even in other things, like ‘psychological swarming,’ like the scene in ‘Barbie’ that should have been removed,” Tolentino said. Tolentino has voiced his objection to the formal screening of the Hollywood movie “Barbie” due to its depiction of China’s nine-dash line. “We are now celebrating the 7th year of the Arbitral Ruling but we allow the Filipino youth to see that 9-dash line scene in the Barbie movie? We should be consistent, the swarming activities happen because we get sidetracked by other things,” Tolentino pointed out.