Rallyists stormed the Chinese Consular Office in Makati City on Wednesday, June 12, and urged the Chinese government to stop all its aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). They also called for the resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio.
According to Bunyog Pagkakaisa, their protest aimed to insist the country's sovereignty on the West Philippine Sea as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The group also slammed the Chinese government for continuously disregarding and disrespecting the 2016 ruling by asserting that the body of water is part of their territory.
Culex Soliman, Bunyog Pagkakaisa's secretary general, said the Chinese government continues to harass Filipino sailors and fishermen following a series of aggressive maneuvers and harassment by the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the WPS against its Filipino counterparts, particularly during Philippine resupply missions, confiscation of supplies meant for frontliners, and obstruction of medical evacuations of military personnel stationed at BRP Sierra Madre.
The group also urged Vice President Sara Duterte to resign following her "lack of reaction or comment" regarding the issue about China and the WPS.
They are also calling on the national government to allow the International Criminal Court (ICC) to enter the country and allow them to investigate the alleged extra judicial killings (EJK) during the war on drugs by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Atin ito
On Tuesday, June 11, several militant groups led by Atin Ito Coalition, also trooped to the Chinese Consulate to urge the Chinese government to stop its aggressive actions in the WPS.
(Photo from Associated Press)
The coalition, alongside Akbayan Party, the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes, fisher leaders from the New Masinloc Fishermen Association, and the Mabayo Agri Aqua Association in Bataan, were joined by various groups including the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), the Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan (PKSK), the Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), Akbayan Youth, and other sectoral groups and social movements in the protest calling for "independence against China's aggressive militarization" in the region.
"Incidents at Escoda Shoal and sightings of Chinese naval ships in Basilan Strait and Zamboanga have only added to the tension, alongside ongoing harassment of Filipino fishers and threats of detention in the WPS," the groups said.
"We remind China that our history bears witness to a resilient Filipino spirit, forged through countless struggles against foreign aggressors and the shadow of superpowers. Our journey toward freedom, independence, and democracy is woven with the courage of generations who stood firm against colonial dominion and invasive forces," Akbayan Party President and Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David said.
"China will not intimidate us. In the spirit of our forefathers who resisted colonial powers, we assert that we will not succumb to the tyranny of our era. With each act of aggression, we respond with unity, solidarity, courage and hope," she stressed.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/11/filipinos-call-on-china-to-stop-wps-harassment