Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Contributed photo)

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has issued a painfully simple appeal to the Chinese government--one that even a grade school student can understand--in light of the latest incident in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

"Ito ay simpleng ano lang ito eh, nananawagan tayo sa kanila, respetuhin niyo naman yung aming bansa, teritoryo namin ito eh," Barbers said in a chance interview on Wednesday, June 19 

(This is quite simple, we appeal to them, please respect our country, this is our territory.) 

"Gaya nung sa inyo, hindi naman kami nanghimasok sa area inyo eh (Like in your case, we don't intrude in your area)," he told the Asian giant. 

Reports said that eight Philippine Navy sailors were injured Monday after China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels blocked and then towed their boats while they were on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. One of the sailors reportedly had a finger cut off. 

Ayungin Shoal is part of the WPS. 

"Alam mo nakakalungkot na nagkaroon ng ganyang klaseng insidente ano, despite yung ating mga panagawan sa lahat ng ating mga diplomatic protest na fi-nile, ay mukhang talagang hindi pinakikinggan at hindi nirerespeto," the veteran lawmaker said in reaction to the reports. 

HAVE YOU READ THIS? 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/19/sumusobra-na-talaga-solon-says-philippines-must-get-tough-vs-china-sooner-or-later

(You know, it's saddening that this incident happened, despite all of our appeals and the diplomatic protests that we filed, it looks like they neither listen to them nor respect them.) 

"Ito, obvious na obvious na hindi na to pambubully, pananakot na talaga itong gagawin nila at ginagawa nila no. Nakakalungkot na mayroon tayong isang injured na kababayan," Barbers further said. 

(It's very obvious that this is no longer a case of bullying, but of intimidation. It saddens me that our countrymen were injured.)