Statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros on China's missile boats charging toward a Filipino boat chartered by ABS-CBN crew

I am outraged. Unti-unti nang nawawala ang katiting na respeto na natitira sa akin para sa gobyerno ng Tsina. This latest provocation only proves that China knows she can never win diplomatically or legally in our territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, hence, she is desperately resorting to the threat of using deadly force.

Ang ABS-CBN crew at ang kasama nitong mangingisda ay pupunta sana sa Ayungin Shoal, ngunit biglang hinarang ng isang barko. At sinundan pa ng dalawang Type 22 Houbei missile boat, a ship class in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. Last week, the same vessels were also spotted in Panganiban Reef. China is escalating to violence. We will never tolerate this barbarity in our seas.

ABS-CBN's Chiara Zambrano checked their boat's location, and they were only 90 nautical miles from Palawan. That's almost just as far as going to Cavite from Tarlac. Clearly, they were within our Exclusive Economic Zone, and yet, China's war vessels brazenly charged in their direction. Iyan ba ang magpapark lang ng barko kasi masama ang panahon?

Pinalibutan na tayo sa sarili nating teritoryo. Tayo pa ang takot sa sarili nating kapuluan. China should pull her Navy and Coast Guard outside the Philippines' EEZ to prevent any incident that might lead to further escalation in a disputed area that is already a powder keg in the region.

As the widow of a Philippine Military Academy graduate, I also would like to echo the recent statement of the PMA Alumni Association and the PMA Retirees Association that strongly condemns China's illegal intrusion in our EEZ and insists that China should comply with the UNCLOS, as both countries are party to this convention. Indeed, no productive negotiation would be possible if China does not adhere to international law and if she continues to use lies and deceit to impose her will upon the region.

Malacañang should also unambiguously denounce China's threats and intimidation at once. The administration's kowtowing to China has been an absolute reneging on our obligation to assert our sovereign rights and territorial claims in the WPS. Let's look to Indonesia which has been standing up to China with regard to the WPS, and yet has still been able to secure satisfactory investments and has timely received COVID-19 vaccines from China. Meanwhile, here in the Philippines, China's investments have not materialized and the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines has been marred by major delays.

Under this administration, we don't even have freedom of navigation in our own EEZ. Nakakahiya. It has also been infuriating to repeatedly hear statements from the highest office of our country that the Philippines and China will resolve issues because we are "friends." Anong klaseng kaibigan ang binabantaan ka ng armas? Nilagay ng Tsina sa panganib ang ating sariling mamamayan, sa sarili nating teritoryo. Ang nangyari sa Pilipinong barko sa Ayungin Shoal ay isa lang sa napakaraming ebidensya kung paano direktang naapektuhan ang ating mga mangingisda sa presensya ng Tsina. Kinuhaan na ng hanapbuhay, binantaan pa ang buhay.

Kung maliitin pa rin ng Palasyo ang pangyayaring ito, ano pa ang silbi ng posisyon ninyo? Ang mga Pilipino ang dapat nating pinaglilingkuran, hindi ang dayuhan.