Hontiveros wants China to pay environmental damages for West PH Sea corals

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said China should be held accountable for the massive coral harvesting in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), renewing her call for the Philippine government to seek a claim for environmental damages there.

This came after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday confirmed there was "severe damage" to the marine environment and coral reef in the seabed of Rozul (Iroquois) Reef and Escoda Shoal in the WPS after several Chinese maritime militia vessels were earlier spotted in the areas.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command on Saturday confirmed there were cases of massive coral harvesting along Rozul Reef.

In filing Proposed Senate Resolution 804, Hontiveros condemned the extensive coral harvesting and destruction discovered at the Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal, and urged the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

The lawmaker stressed that the Philippines should seek payment for the environmental damages in the WPS which were likely caused by Chinese maritime militia vessels.

“Aabot ng bilyon-bilyon ang makukuha natin kung maoobligang magbayad ang Tsina. Ninanakawan na nga nila ng hanapbuhay ang ating mga mangingisda, winawasak pa nila ang ating likas-yaman. Kung mabayaran ng Tsina ang lahat ng utang niya sa Pilipinas, siguradong makakatulong ito sa kinakaharap nating krisis sa ekonomiya,” Hontiveros said.

(We will get billions if China is forced to pay. They are robbing our fishermen of their livelihood, they are even destroying our natural resources. If China can pay off all its debts to the Philippines, it will definitely help with the economic crisis we are facing.)

In 2021, Hontiveros said that China owed the Philippines more than P800 billion for the destruction of the country's natural resources amid Beijing's continued exploration of the WPS.

Citing Dr. Deo Onda, a scientist from the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute, the senator noted that the Philippines was losing around P33.1 billion annually from the damaged reef ecosystems in Panatag Shoal and Spratlys Islands due to China’s reclamation activities there.

“This will not be the first time for us to seek reparations. Japan paid our country for her destruction of Manila during World War II, and in more recent history, the United States of America also paid the Philippines P87 million, after the USS Guardian damaged Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea. May karapatan tayong maningil (We have a right to demand payment),” Hontiveros explained.

The resolution also indicated that the Philippine government “cannot tolerate the continuing harms to the environment, economy, and security brought about by China’s incursions, and must explore available resources to hold China accountable, including a claim for damages to be filed with the Permanent of Court Arbitration.”

“Our 2016 Arbitral Award clearly invalidated China’s sweeping and expansive claims in the WPS. This is a case we won because of our dogged commitment to abide by international law and uphold the truth. It is only right that we pursue all options to make China pay,” Hontiveros concluded.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla had said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is recommending the filing of cases against China concerning instances of extensive coral harvesting in the WPS.

Remulla said that there was a strong case to file on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines "for the sake of humanity itself." The government would also engage the top environmental lawyers in the country for the potential legal action, according to him.

"We are recommending the filing of such cases against the perpetrators of this evil act, which is the destruction of the environment," Remulla said.

"We believe it can be done. We will pursue these cases against China because it's no longer acceptable. We have a lot of evidence," he added.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., meanwhile, said the reported destruction of corals at the Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal was being verified since destruction of corals and marine life is considered a violation of an international treaty. —KG, GMA Integrated News