Dispatch from Crame No. 533:
Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement on the Recto Bank Incident between Chinese and Filipino Fishing Vessels

6/14/19

The actions of the Chinese fishermen who abandoned the 22 Filipino fishermen after their collision in the Recto Bank is deplorable. I join our community of patriotic Filipinos in condemning their acts and calling for justice.

Ang ginawang hit-and-run ng mga Tsino laban sa mga mangingisda natin ay nagpapakita na wala silang good faith sa kanilang pagtawid at pamamalagi sa ating Exclusive Economic Zone. I agree with Sec. Delfin Lorenzana that the movement of the Chinese vessel in maintaining its course without slowing down in spite of the collision indicates that, at the very least, the abandonment is intentional.

Kailangan magkaroon ng imbestigasyon diyan upang pagbayarin ang mga may sala at alamin kung: 1) intensyonal ba ang nangyaring banggaan; at 2) ano ba talaga ang ginagawa ng mga Tsino sa ating EEZ? Baka naman kaya sila nagmamadali ay dahil may tinatago sila. It is possible, even probable, that the Chinese vessel was engaged in some unlawful activities, such as smuggling or poaching, during the incident, which could have influenced their decision to abandon our fishermen.

Kung hindi pa nagmagandang loob ang ating mga kapitbahay na Vietnamese ay baka namatayan na tayo ng mga kababayan natin doon.

Rather than coming to the rescue of our countrymen, DFA Sec. Teddy Locsin jumped to the defense of the Chinese by contradicting claims of intentionality on the part of the Chinese by Sec. Lorenzana and various other experts on naval and maritime relations. President Duterte himself met this issue with his trademark deafening silence in the face of Chinese aggression and misconduct. These are not the reactions that we need and deserve from our President and top diplomat. This sends an unfortunate message to the world that we tolerate injustice from China against our own people.

Apologists of China would argue that this is a matter between non-State actors and that it would be sufficient that the Chinese government merely sanction the operators of the Chinese vessel. It is not enough. A clear injustice has been done and the Chinese fishermen committed a crime against our countrymen. We should demand that they be brought here for prosecution. We should hold the Chinese government responsible for the actions of their vessels operating within our EEZ.

Hindi tayo dapat matakot humarap sa China para humingi ng hustisya. Minsan na natin ginawa yan at nanalo tayo sa ating kaso laban sa kanila. We should insist on our internationally recognized rights and join our ASEAN neighbors and the rest of the world in demanding compliance from China.

Hindi lang po holiday ang June 12 para makapagbakasyon ang tao. Ito po ay paalala na ang ating kalayaan ay hindi libre. Hindi po ito bigay sa atin. Binayaran po natin ito ng mga buhay. Paalala po ito na kung hindi po tayo magbabantay, may mga bansa na gaya ng China na aabusuhin tayo sa sarili nating teritoryo. Kung hindi po tayo magsasalita ay mamaliitin ng ibang bansa ang ating kasarinlan at soberanya.

Nasaan na ang tapang na pinakita nila Duterte at Locsin laban sa Canada? Nasaan na yung pull-out ng mga diplomat natin sa China? Nasaan na ang mga pagmumura sa entablado at sa Twitter ng ating magigiting na mga pinuno? Nasaan na ang mga tapang ng mga nagtutulak sa ROTC? Bakit tila tahimik sila ngayong may klarong pag-abuso na?

Gising na po, Ginoong Duterte. Ipagtanggol mo naman po ang mga Pilipino.

(Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 533, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_from_crame_no._533)