Pacquiao wants peace panel to handle tensions in West Philippine Sea

Should he win the presidency in the May 9 election, Senator Manny Pacquiao said Tuesday he would form a peace panel that will handle the issues regarding the country's dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea.

Pacquiao said the issue of competing territorial claims must be discussed.

"Kaya ang sinasabi ko bubuo tayo ng peace panel para magfocus diyan, magtutok diyan sa issue na 'yan sa West Philippine Sea," he said in Quezon City.

(We will form a peace panel to focus on the matter. That will handle the issues in the West Philippine Sea.)

The senator issued the statement after China on Monday insisted it has sovereign rights over the Scarborough Shoal.

This was in response to the Philippine Coast Guard's report of a "close distance maneuvering" incident involving a Chinese vessel in the area.

"Nakikiusap tayo sa bansang Tsina na pag-usapan, magpaalam sa atin bago pumasok sa teritoryo natin," Pacquiao said.

(We request that China communicate with us and obtain our consent before entering our territory.)

The Philippines has since lodged a diplomatic protest with China over the incident at Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

In July 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated Beijing’s historic claims in the South China Sea, a portion of which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

China, however, does not recognize the ruling. — VBL, GMA News