Hundreds of Alyansa Bantay Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD) members trooped to Morayta, Manila on Monday morning, June 17, to show their support for the initiatives and assertion of ownership of President Marcos over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
"Sa pagganap ng pagkilos, kami ay nagpapakita ng lakas at pagsuporta sa mga programa at polisiya ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. na ang mga Pilipino ay hindi magpaparaya at kaisa ng ating mahal na Pangulo sa pagtatanggol ng soberanya at teritoryo sa WPS at paggigiit ng karapatang pandagat sa loob ng Exclusive Economic Zone ng Pilipinas (In this rally, we are showing strength and support for the programs and policies of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. that Filipinos will not tolerate and are united with our dear president in the defense of sovereignty and territory in the WPS and asserting maritime rights within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines)," ABKD expressed.
Rodolfo "RJ" Villena, ABKD spokesperson, said it was the group's third day of march to show support for President Marcos' efforts in asserting the Philippines' territorial rights in the WPS.
Villena also said they were supposed to stage a rally in Mendiola but they were blocked by the Manila Police District (MPD).
The MPD said the group was not permitted to stage their protest in Mendiola.
The groups marched from España Boulevard to Morayta to also denounce China’s regulation empowering its coast guard to detain foreigners trespassing into the territory it is claiming in the WPS.
"Itinakda na ang pagpapatupad ng bagong mga regulasyon o polisiya na inilabas ng Tsina na binibigyang kapangyarihan ang kanilang China Coast Guard (CCG) na hulihin at isagot ang mga sinumang “trespassers” o papasok sa kanilang binabantayang teritoryo at pinag-aagawan na teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea (It is now implementing the new regulations or policies that empower the China Coast Guard (CCG) to arrest any "trespassers" who enter their territory in the West Philippine Sea)," ABKD stated.
The group also called on the Chinese government to obey and respect the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Ruling so Filipino fishermen can continue with their livelihood in the WPS.
"Mariin namin kinukundena ang iligal na pagpapatupad nito sa mga pinag-aagawan ng mga teritoryo sa WPS at malinaw na paglabag sa international law. Hindi rin makakatulong para maresolba at masolusyunan ang hindi pagkakaunawaan, bagkus ay maaring magpapataas lamang ng tensyon sa WPS at Asya Pasipiko (We strongly condemn its illegal implementation of its new policy in the disputed territories in the WPS and clear violation of international law. These acts will not help resolve the dispute, but may only increase the tension in the WPS and Asia Pacific)," ABKD also said.
The MPD said there was no untoward incident reported during the rally.