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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pangilinan urges DFA to demand accountability from China over attack on Navy officer

Pangilinan urges DFA to demand accountability from China over attack on Navy officer

Published Jul 21, 2026 05:06 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan reiterated that the Philippines has every right to conduct lawful and peaceful operations within its EEZ consistent with international law, including the abritral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Tuesday, July 21, urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to exhaust all its resources and means to make China accountable after a reported assault by members of the China Coast Guard against a Philippine Navy officer during a recent resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal. Pangilinan said the government should exhaust all legal and diplomatic means to assert the ruling of the 2016 arbitral ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, which invalidated China’s nine-dash line and upheld the Philippine government’s sovereign right over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“We call on the DFA to immediately file a strong diplomatic protest and inform our allies in the ASEAN community of this incident,” Pangilinan said.
“DFA should use all legal and diplomatic means, including the 2016 Arbitral Award, all of these, to make China accountable, and to strengthen global community support, defend Philippine rights and the safety and welfare of our people, and to promote peace in the West Philippine Sea,”he said. 
Pangilinan reiterated that the Philippines has every right to conduct lawful and peaceful operations within its EEZ consistent with international law, including the abritral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).
"Nasa bakuran na namin kayo, kayo pa ang may ganang manakit. Ang ganitong pananakit at paggamit ng dahas laban sa aming mga tauhan ay labag sa basic GMRC at sa obligasyon ng mga estado sa ilalim ng international law na umiwas sa banta at paggamit ng puwersa (You are already in our area, yet you are the one who has the will to harm. Such harm and use of force against our personnel violates the basic GMRC and the obligation of states under internationa law to refrain from the threat or use of force),” he said.
"Nagsalita na ang international tribunal: Isang low-tide elevation sa loob ng EEZ at continental shelf ng Pilipinas ang Ayungin Shoal, at wala kayong anumang 'historic rights' o sovereign rights na pwedeng pang override sa karapatan ng Pilipinas sa mga lugar na ito (The international tribunal has spoken: Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation within the EEZ and continental shelf of the Philippines, and you do not have any ‘historic rights’ or sovereign rights that can override the Philippines’ rights to these areas),” he pointed out.
Pangilinan reiterated China should stop the bullying and adhere to international laws and the arbitral ruling, which has the support of over 40 other countries. 

Related Tags

China West Philipine Sea 2016 Arbitral Award Kiko Pangilinan
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