Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to report China’s incursions before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Hontiveros renewed her call after the Chinese Coast Guard once again water cannoned the boat Unaizah May 4 during the March 23 resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
Meanwhile, a Chinese helicopter reportedly harassed Filipino scientists conducting field work at Sandy Cay near Pag-asa Island also on March 23.
“I am enraged at how China’s water cannons relentlessly attacked our Filipino personnel. Kung may hindi pa magagalit dito, baka hindi na sila Pilipino,” Hontiveros said on Wednesday (March 27).
Citing Senate Resolution 79 – which the upper chamber adopted in August last year to condemn China’s provocative actions in the West Philippine Sea – Hontiveros said the DFA should consider Senate’s recommendations to go before international fora to call attention to China’s bullying – including reporting China before the UNGA in New York.
“I support DFA’s lodging of a strong protest against this recent harassment, but I also call on the Department to expedite the filing of a resolution in the UN General Assembly that calls on China to stop this blatant violence in Philippine waters,” Hontiveros said.
Going to the UNGA is an “urgent” action to do before the situation in the South China Sea worsens, according to the senator.
“Bugbog na ang ating mga tropa sa karagatan. Let us show our troops that we are also taking concrete steps to fight for them in all diplomatic and political avenues available to us,” Hontiveros said.
She also demanded that China be held accountable, by paying reparations over the injuries sustained by Filipino crew at sea and for the damages to the boat, as well as for its coast guard and maritime militia’s alleged coral harvesting.
“To China, you should be ashamed. Stop behaving like a criminal. Have some decency. It’s not too late to act like a dignified country,” Hontiveros said.
This article was originally published by a politiko.com.ph . Read the Original article here. .