On media asking for comment on China's call urging the Philippines to stop maritime exercises in the South China Sea saying it would "escalate disputes" in the area, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan's statement:

"We will do freely what we deem necessary in our sovereign waters, and China or any other foreign nation for that matter has no business telling us what to do inside our sovereign waters and exclusive economic zone. Our history as a people is marked by our valiant struggles against Spanish, American, and Japanese occupying forces in defense of our Motherland. We fought for our sovereignty then, we most certainly will refuse to surrender any of it now.

Malaya nating gagawin ang kinakailangan sa ating karagatan, at hindi China o sinumang dayuhan ang pwedeng utusan tayo kung ano'ng pwede nating gawin sa ating sovereign waters at exclusive economic zone. Nakaukit sa ating kasaysayan ang matapang nating pakikibaka laban sa mga Kastila, Amerikano, and Hapon na nanghimasok sa ating Inang Bayan. Ipinaglaban natin noon kung ano ang atin, 'di tayo susuko lalo na ngayon.

Atin 'to!

Alis dyan!"