PINAGSABIHAN ni Senador Grace Poe ang China na pag-aari ng mamamayang Filipino ang bahagi ng West Philippine Sea, base sa desisyon ng international arbitral court.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Poe na ikalimang taon nang naipanalo ng Pilipinas ang pagmamay-ari ng bansa sa WPS na kinikilala ng international community, na nagtagal ng permanenteng ficture sa international legal system.
“The West Philippine Sea (WPS) belongs to the Filipino people, and the landmark arbitral award affirmed this ownership and gave it a permanent fixture in the international legal system,” ayon kay Poe.
Sinabi ni Poe na nakasalalay rito ang malawak na maritime area na mayaman sa pangisdaan, langis, gas at iba pang natural na yaman kaya libu-libong mangingisda ang umaasa rito para sa kanilang pagkain at kabuhayan.
“We stand united with them in asserting our rights to our waters and protecting our territory from invasion and illegal activities,” ayon kay Poe.
“We should make use of our victory in the tribunal to undertake a determined, focused and unflinching defense of our maritime entitlements and jurisdiction. We should be relentless in pursuing the peaceful path to exercise our rights, with the support of the international community,” giit pa niya.
“Government leaders may come and go, but this would not alter the arbitral ruling, which is our victory and pride,” patapos ng senador. (ESTONG REYES)
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