Robredo: Philippines’ exclusive sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal is non-debatable fact

Vice President Leni Robredo said Thursday the Philippines' sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), which is located within the country's exclusive economic zone, is not debatable.

Robredo said this in response to China's call on the Philippines to remove BRP Sierra Madre out of Ayungin Shoal, just nine days after Chinese coast guard fired water cannons at two Philippine supply vessels en route to resupply troops there on Ayungin Shoal.

"Iyong facts, hindi siya debatable kasi mayroon ng ruling ang Arbitral Tribunal. Kasi covered na ng Arbitral Tribunal, hindi na tayo dapat nakikipagdebate. Klaro na bahagi ito ng ating EEZ, meron tayong sovereign rights, iyon enjoyment ng resources roon ay exclusive para sa mga Pilipino (Facts are not debatable. The court ruling has covered this, and as such, we should not be debating over this. It is clear that Ayungin is within our EEZ. Our sovereign rights in Ayungin is not debatable. Filipinos should exclusively enjoy resources there)," Robredo said.

Robredo was referring to the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which junked China's nine-dash claim in the South China Sea. In the same ruling, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that the Spratly Islands, Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and Recto (Reed) Bank are within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

Since the November 16 attack of the Chinese coast guard, two Philippine resupply ships already reached Ayungin Shoal on Tuesday noon, November 23, to aid Filipino troops there.

China has not apologized for its water cannon attack and instead argued that the Philippine supply vessels were trespassing.

This move was reminiscent of the April 2012 incident where Chinese forces also fired water cannons at Filipino fishing boats in Scarborough Shoal, a rich common fishing ground, in the West Philippine Sea. This incident prompted the Philippines to sue China before the Hague court, a case that China has refused to recognize and the Philippines has won in July 2016.

President Rodrigo Duterte has called the November 16 water cannon attack by China as abhorrent and something that does not speak well of the relationship between two countries.

Robredo welcomed this and hopes this position will be sustained.

"Sana maging consistent para iyong boses natin, pinakikinggan. Kasi nakita naman natin na kapag consistent ang tao, nagbabackoff naman, nakukuha natin ang cooperation," she added. — RSJ, GMA News