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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PBBM's response to water cannon attack is 'the right decision', says Romualdez

PBBM's response to water cannon attack is 'the right decision', says Romualdez

Published Aug 7, 2023 12:31 pm

At A Glance

  • President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. made the right call in consulting first the country's military leaders on the supposed illegal use of water cannons by China Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

IMG-12b13b46605ba2e1414c97ccf6d509ae-V.jpgPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (left,) Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

 

 

 

 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. made the right call in consulting first the country's military leaders on the supposed illegal use of water cannons by China Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

Thus, said House Speaker Martin Romualdez in a statement Monday night, Aug. 7 

“The President made the right decision to get the consensus of officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on how best the government can address the latest incident in the [WPS],” Romualdez said. 

Last Saturday, Aug. 5, two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal off Palawan were blasted with water cannons by the China Coast Guard. Sierra Madre, which serves as an outpost, was carrying a platoon of Filipino soldiers. 

Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district representative and Marcos' top ally in the legislature, says he also supports the diplomatic actions the government is taking in connection with this harassment at-sea. 

Earlier Monday, President Marcos said he has called for a command conference to come up with a comprehensive response to China’s dangerous maneuvers in Ayungin. 

The Speaker commended the President for his firm stand on the issue of Philippine sovereignty over the WPS. 

“We support his position that we should continue to assert our sovereignty there and that we should defend every inch of our territory,” he said. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has sent a diplomatic note to Beijing protesting the Ayunin water cannon blast incident. 

 

Related Tags

Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. Martin Romualdez West Philippine Sea
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