Senator Risa Hontiveros has renewed her push for the measure that seeks to declare July 12 of every year as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day.                                             Senator Risa Hontiveros (MB File Photo)

Senate Resolution No. 674, refiled from 2021, seeks to commemorate the Philippines’ triumph before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, Netherlands in 2016. “Commemorating our 2016 victory every year can help weaken China’s spurious claims over our own territories,” Hontiveros said in a statement. “Paulit-ulit ang kasinungalingan at propaganda ng Tsina, kaya’t tayo sa Pilipinas, dapat hindi rin humihinto sa pagsiwalat ng katotohanan. Umpisahan na natin sa pagpapapatibay ng kaalaman ng ating mga mamamayan tungkol sa ating karapatan sa West Philippine Sea (China's lies and propaganda are repeated over and over again, so we in the Philippines should not stop revealing the truth. Let's start by strengthening the knowledge of our people about our right to the West Philippine Sea),” Hontiveros said. The resolution highlights that the landmark case ruled against the Chinese government’s claims to historic and sovereign rights vis-a-vis maritime areas in the West Philippine Sea. The Hague ruling declared that China’s claims were contrary to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and that China breached her obligations with respect to the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The arbitration case was initiated by the Philippine government, led by the late President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. This was after Chinese vessels began denying Filipino fisherfolk access to their traditional fishing grounds in Panatag Shoal and other parts of the WPS. Hontiveros said that the Marcos administration should, likewise, conceive of ways to further strengthen the country’s claim over the WPS. “Government must take every possible action in the name of our national sovereignty,” she said. “Huwag nating hayaang balewalain lang ng Tsina ang kalayaan at soberanyang ipinamana sa atin ng ating mga ninuno. Kaya, kahit man lang isang beses sa bawat taon, ipagbunyi natin ang West Philippine Sea. Ipagmalaki natin ang tapang at puso ng bawat Pilipinong tumitindig sa Tsina. Ipaglaban natin ang Pilipinas (Let's not let China ignore the freedom and sovereignty that our ancestors bequeathed to us. So, at least once every year, let's celebrate the West Philippine Sea. Let's be proud of the courage and heart of every Filipino who stands up in China. Let's fight for the Philippines),” Hontiveros stressed.