Escudero suggests bringing West PH Sea issue to ASEAN

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Wednesday suggested raising the issue in the West Philippine Sea to the level of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) amid China's latest aggression against Philippine troops.

The newly installed Senate top leader raised this when asked if the Philippines should file another case against China.

"Option palagi ‘yan ng ating pamahalaan pero isang concern din na nais kong i-bring up ay sana subukan, kung kakayanin ng ating DFA, na dalhin ito sa ASEAN. ‘Yan ang regional organization na kinabibilangan ng Pilipinas at hindi maikakaila ang isyung ito kaugnay sa West Philippine Sea ay nagaganap sa loob na nasasakupan ng ASEAN," Escudero said.

"Hindi kilalang political na asosasyon ang ASEAN subalit forum pa rin ito para mapag-usapan anumang nagaganap sa parteng ito ng ating mundo dito sa ating rehiyon," he added.

(Filing another case against China is always an option of our government, but one concern I want to bring up is, if the Department of Foreign Affairs can do it, bring the issue to the ASEAN. It is the regional organization that the Philippines is a part of and one can deny that the West Philippine Sea issue is happening in areas that are part of ASEAN.

ASEAN is not known as a political association but it is still a forum where whatever's happening in our region can be discussed.)

Reacting to the video released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showing Chinese personnel snatching the supplies intended for Filipino soldiers stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Escudero said this seems to escalate tension in the area.

But the lawmaker appealed for all parties to remain calm despite the recent actions committed by the Chinese personnel, stressing that no one wants a war in the region.

"Tila dagdag escalation ito subalit sana ang aking hiling at panalangin manatiling mahinahon ang magkabilang panig - ang ating bansa at ang bansang Tsina - anuman ang uri ng opensibang ginagawa nila tulad ng pag-agaw," Escudero said.

"Sana huwag patulan ng ating bansa dahil uulitin ko walang may gusto ng anumang uri ng digmaan na sumiklab dito sa rehiyon natin at lalong-lalo na kung ang magiging battle ground ay ating bansa hindi naman ibang lugar," he added.

(It looks like further escalation but my wish and prayer is for both parties — the Philippines and China — to remain calm despite this incident. 

I hope our country will not be provoked because, I repeat, nobody wants any kind of war to erupt in our region especially if our country will become the battle ground.)

Escudero reiterated that these actions can be discussed through a dialogue or any form of communication between the parties.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the  Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. The section of the sea that is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone was renamed the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague said China's claims had no legal basis. Beijing has refused to recognize the decision. —KBK, GMA Integrated News