Senators on Sunday condemned China for performing "dangerous blocking maneuvers" that resulted in a collision with the Unaiza May 2, an indigenous boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.
In separate statements, Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, Senators Risa Hontiveros, and Francis Tolentino expressed their anger over the collision that put the safety of the Filipino crew at risk.
"I am one with peace-loving Filipinos in strongly condemning this latest abhorrent actions of the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia that put in danger the lives of our brave countrymen who were on a routine resupply mission to our troops in Ayungin Shoal," Zubiri said.
"Let me salute our personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for displaying courage and restraint in continuing their resupply missions despite the hostile and treacherous acts of China Coast Guard and their maritime militia," he added.
Zubiri called on CCG to "respect human lives and abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international laws governing safe maritime travel."
"Our freedom of navigation in our own exclusive economic zone within our own continental shelf should be recognized and upheld," he stressed.
The Senate chief also reiterated his support for his colleagues' efforts to beef up the PCG and AFP's budget for the next fiscal year to "better capacitate them in safeguarding our exclusive economic zones from illegal foreign intrusions."
"As leader of the Senate, I will make sure that our troops will get sufficient funds under the 2024 national budget to bankroll the much-needed upgrade of their equipment," he said.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea accused the CCG of performing "dangerous blocking maneuvers" that resulted in a collision with the Unaiza May 2, an indigenous boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.
The NTF-WPS condemned the "provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action" of the China Coast Guard ship which "imperiled the safety" of the Unaiza May 2 crew.
In the same resupply mission, a Chinese Maritime Militia vessel "bumped" the Philippine Coast Guard BRP Cabra's port side which was escorting the Philippine vessels while it was lying approximately 6.4 nautical miles northeast of Ayungin Shoal.
The NTF-WPS said it "condemns in the strongest degree the latest dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal actions of the CCG and the Chinese maritime militia done this morning."
'Enough'
Hontiveros echoed Zubiri's call on China to "stop" its activities in the West Philippine Sea which she said clearly violates international law.
"This latest collision is squarely the China Coast Guard's fault," she said in a separate statement.
"The 2016 Arbitral Award has resolutely invalidated China's claims in the West Philippine Sea, making this incident a clear violation of international law," she added.
Hontiveros said the PCG "has every right to be in the West Philippine Sea."
"China has no right to drive our forces into our own seas. Furthermore, they do not have the right to hurt and bump Philippine vessels that are only performing their jobs in our territories," she stressed.
"Chinese vessels have chased, blocked, and harassed our Philippine Coast Guard daily, 24/7 every single time we conduct our resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre," she added.
The opposition lawmaker also called on the international community to join the Philippines' condemnation of China's most recent violence against the Filipino people.
"Our nations should not stop fighting for the rule of law. It is the only way to have a chance at true peace and stability across the region and the world," she said.
For his part, Tolentino said the recent confrontation between the Philippines and China clearly shows China's continuous disregard for international law.
He noted that the incident should be investigated by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the Code for Investigation ng Marine Casualties and Incidents of the International Maritime Organization.
Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
China claims the vast South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
On 12 July 2016, the Philippines won its arbitral case against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration – a landmark decision that China continues to reject.
