President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., (left), Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Facebook)

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez says there's one measure that Malacañang can enact to strengthen the country’s stand against China’s aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

In a statement over the weekend, Rodriguez prodded President Marcos to sign the Philippine Maritime Zones Bill. The Mindanaoan is a principal author. 

“I am almost sure that we will soon have this law. This early, I am appealing to China to recognize it and to immediately stop encroaching and intruding in our EEZ (exclusive economic zone) and the West Philippine Sea,” he said. 

Rodriguez also appealed to President Marcos to ignore any reaction from China against the signing of the bill into law. 

“Let us not worry about what the Chinese will say. Let us think of our own national interest,” he said. 

The proposed definition of the country’s maritime territory includes the Chinese-occupied Scarborough or Panatag Shoal off Zambales and Pangasinan, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, a traditional fishing ground of Filipinos. 

The Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) routinely patrols this area, which Beijing seized in 2012 after a standoff between Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels. The Chinese constantly harass Filipinos fishing around Bajo de Masinloc. 

Rodriguez claims that Beijing also wants the removal of BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, which is also within the country’s 200-nautical mile EEZ. 

The CCG had recently confiscated the supplies meant for troops aboard BRP Sierra Madre. 

Recently, the Chinese government issued a regulation authorizing its coast guard to detain foreigners “trespassing” in the WPS. 

“The measure’s enactment will boost our assertion of our maritime and sovereign rights in the [WPS] and our [EEZ], which China frequently intrudes into. It will reinforce the enforcement of such rights by our defense-military forces,” Rodriguez said. 

He said the passage of the bill is in accordance with international laws, agreements and conventions, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 arbitral ruling invalidating Beijing’s expansive claim over the South China Sea, including the WPS. 

UNCLOS allows states to define their maritime boundaries, the veteran lawmaker noted.