PH should be relentless in protecting interest in WPS, say De Guzman, Querubin

Labor leader Leody de Guzman and retired military official Ariel Querubin agreed that the Philippine government should push for its interest in the contested West Philippine Sea even without the intervention of other countries.

"Dapat natin talagang i-claim ‘yung ating teritoryo dito sa West Philippine Sea laban doon sa pangangamkam ng China. Pero, dapat nating maging mahinahon tayo dahil sa impluwensya ng America," said De Guzman during the GMA's Tanong ng Bayan: The GMA Senatorial Debates.

(We really need to claim our territory in the West Philippine Sea amid the claims of China. But we need to be careful with the influence of America.)  

"‘Yung intervention ng America sa isyu na ‘yan dahil baka ang mangyari, sa halip na maisulong natin ‘yung ating interest, ang interest ng America ang mangibabaw at gamitin tayong pawn sa kanyang giyera laban sa China," he added.

(America's intervention in the issue could affect our stance as we might push their interest instead of ours. We could be used as a pawn against China.)

The US has been the Philippines’ longtime ally especially in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Both countries have been vocal against the aggression by China in the West Philippine Sea.

Beijing claims almost all of the contested waters, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Querubin shared the same sentiments in exercising rights in the West Philippine Sea.

"Sang-ayon ako sa sinabi ni Leody, atin ang West Philippine Sea at dapat ipaglaban natin dahil karapatan natin na mag-explore, exploit at mag harnessed sa resources ng West Philippine Sea," he said.

(I agree with what Leody said, the West Philippine Sea is ours and we need to fight for our rights to explore, exploit, and harness the resources in the West Philippine Sea.)

Further, both senatorial aspirants agreed on the need to further protect the rights of Filipino fishermen amid the aggressions by Chinese militia.

"Alam mo, sang-ayon ako diyan na dapat ma-reinforce ang batas at dapat suportahan ang mga mangingisda dahil sila talaga yung problemado na nasa 40% ang poverty threshold," said De Guzman.

(You know what, I agree that the laws should be reinforced and we must support the fishermen because they are the most affected and among the 40% in the poverty threshold.)

"Sang-ayon din ako no sa sinabi ni Ka-Leody, kasi nakita natin ‘yung kapakanan ng ating mga mangingisda, sila ‘yung naapektuhan ng husto dito sa ating West Philippine Sea, ganyan din ang sinasabi nila, not only sa Masinloc, kundi pati sa Palawan," said Querubin.

(I agree with what Leody said, because we saw the plight of our fishermen and they are the most affected in the issue in the West Philippine Sea.)

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has not recognized the decision.—With Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News