(NI NOEL ABUEL)

INALMAHAN ng mga senador ang pagpapalubog ng barkong pandigma ng China sa sasakyang pandagat ng mga Filipino sa Recto (Reed) Bank sa West Philippine Sea.

Kasabay nito, ipinare-recall naman ni Senador Risa Hontiveros ang Philippine Envoys at consuls sa China upang ipakita ang galit ng Pilipinas sa  ginawa ng Chinese vessel na mga inosenteng sibilyan na mismong nasa karagatan sakop ng bansa.

“I call on President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately order the recall of our ambassador and all our consuls in China. It stands to reason that if President Duterte can order the recall of our envoy and consuls in Canada over a dispute on garbage, he can do the same to defend and secure the lives of our fisherfolk and the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” aniya.

Giit ni Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, pinakilos nito ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) para maghain ng diplomatic protest laban sa China dahil sa pag-abandona ng Philippine vessel.

“I urge the DFA to file a diplomatic protest immediately. This incident demands strong and immediate action. We cannot let this incident pass. No self-respecting nation will allow that,” ani Drilon.

Paliwanag pa ni Drilon, na dating kalihim ng Department of Justice (DOJ), sa ilalim ng Article 98 ng United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), obligasyon ng bawat estado na tumulong sa sinumang person in distress o nawawala sa karagatan.

Kinondena rin ni Senador Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III ang pag-abandona ng Chinese vessel sa mga Filipino crewmen matapos na banggain ito sa dagat sakop ng WPS.

Ani Pimentel, na mamumuno sa Senate Committee on Foreign Relations sa 18th Congress, ipinarating na rin ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III ang pagkondena laban sa ginawa ng Chine vessel sa sasakyang pandagat ng 22 Filipinong mangingisda.

“No matter who was at fault, the crew of a sinking ship must never be abandoned by an able ship. The rescue of all persons in distress at sea is not only an obligation under international maritime law, it is also a matter of humanitarian duty,” sabi pa ni Pimentel.