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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Baka pati Commonwealth angkinin?': Suarez vents frustration over Chinese intrusion in Benham 

'Baka pati Commonwealth angkinin?': Suarez vents frustration over Chinese intrusion in Benham 

Published Mar 4, 2024 05:39 am

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez couldn't hide his exasperation Monday, March 4 when he was asked about the reported presence of Chinese vessels in Benham Rise over the weekend. 

FB_IMG_1706068237563.jpgQuezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez (Facebook)

 

 

 

 

 

 


House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez couldn't hide his exasperation Monday, March 4 when he was asked about the reported presence of Chinese vessels in Benham Rise over the weekend. 

"Number one, I think the question we should ask is, Anong ginagawa nila dito? Sobrang layo na nila sa Tsina tapos nanghihimasok pa sila teritoryo ng bansa natin," Suarez said in a press conference. 

(What are they doing here? They've reached this far from mainland China and yet they intrude into our territory.) 

"At tsaka yung Benham Rise ha, nasa kabilang banda na yun ng South China Sea. Anong ginagawa nila doon?  Baka pagkagising ko itong Commonwealth [Avenue] sabihin nila kanila na rin. Hindi na pupwede yun," added Suarez, who turned to cracking a joke to convey his frustration. 

(And Benham Rise is located on the other side of the South China Sea. What are they doing there? I might wake up one day and they will claim Commonwealth as theirs. We can't allow that.) 

Commonwealth Avenue is a major highway in Quezon City and Metro Manila in general. It is 12.7 kilometers long. 

This supposed intrusion by Chinese vessels in Benham Rise took place amid the continued activities of the foreign vessels in the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the South China Sea. 

 

ALSO READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/4/castro-chinese-presence-in-benham-rise-deeply-troubling

"It is necessary for us to double-down on our defense spending, funding and allocation just so that we can protect what is naturally ours," Suarez said. 

"I do hope China would respect international norms when it comes to cooperation and partnership. We all share the same world, but the last thing we want is to have any violence anything untoward happening in our territories," said the deputy speaker. 

"That being said, again we will always fight for what is for the Philippines and what is rightfully owned by the Philippines," he underscored. 

It is still not known why the Chinese ships, described as two research vessels, visited Benham.

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david Jay-jay suarez Benham Rise Commonwealth Avenue
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