STATEMENT OF SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON PRESIDENT DUTERTE'S REMARKS ON THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA ISSUE

Sinusuko na ng Presidente ang soberanya ng Pilipinas.

Nakakahiyang marinig na mismong ang Commander-in-Chief ng Pilipinas ang pasimuno ng mistulang pagbigay ng ating teritoryo sa China. Sabi niya dati, mag-jejetski siya papuntang West Philippine Sea, hindi naman ginawa. Wala parin nga siyang ginagawa, tapos surrender na kaagad?

The President may see no other option other than letting China take control of our waters, but the Filipino people are not ready to give up. My colleagues in the Senate, military officers, business groups, fisherfolk, civil society organizations, and numerous individuals have strongly condemned China's aggression in the WPS. Tapos siya, ni pagkondena, hindi magawa? Ano pang silbi ng Presidenteng inutil?

We should not allow a President who gives up our sovereignty like loose change. We should not accept a President who thinks the only way out of this dispute is through war. Walang may gusto ng giyera.

This President swore an oath to defend the constitution and the Philippine nation. A constitution that renounces war as an instrument of national policy. So if a "war" he cannot wage is the only way he can think of to confront China, then that betrays the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the highest office of the land.

Handa ang DFA na makipagtulungan sa ibang bansa. Handa ang DND na ipagtanggol ang ating bayan. Alam nila na sinungaling ang Tsina at ang Pilipinas ang nasa tama. But our President himself has no moral courage. Our diplomatic and legislative rights may be eroded because our own President cannot stand up for them.

Dapat sana, patuloy nating iginigiit at ginagamit ang lahat ng diplomatikong paraan, kasama ang ating mga karatig-bansa at ang buong mundo, upang ipagtanggol ang ating teritoryo.

Sa halip na makipagtulungan sa international community at ulit-ulitin ang ating tagumpay sa The Hague noong 2016, mas pinili ng Pangulo na paunlakan at pakisamahan ang "special friend" nya: ang China.

Sa halip na singilin ang Beijing, tinutustusan pa ni Presidente ang ambisyon ng China tungo sa imperyalismo.

Duwag ba sya o traydor? Either way, he has failed our country. He has failed to defend our sovereignty, our seas, our people.

Handa man siyang isuko ang Pilipinas, hinding-hindi naman susuko ang mga Pilipino.