From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13): Gabriela solons back Pres. Duterte's call to end joint patrols in West PHL Sea
Women's partylist group Gabriela has expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to stop the joint patrols being conducted by the navies of the Philippines and the United States at the West Philippine Sea.
"Did joint US-PH patrols ever stop China from encroaching into Philippine waters? The President is right in pursuing a different tact in protecting and asserting Philippine jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea and upholding the United Nations’ Tribunal decision in favor of the Philippines," Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said in a statement on Thursday.
The joint patrols began in April under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement signed by the Philippines and the US two years ago.
President Duterte earlier said there would be no more joint patrols, as he did not want the Philippines to be involved in a conflict between the US and China over dominance in the disputed waters.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has questioned the decision, arguing that the President has the duty to protect the country's territory.
Another Gabriela solon, Arlene Brosas, meanwhile said that with President Duterte seeking to remove activities that may be deemed as a demonstration of hostility or provocation in the area, the President should also bat for Filipino fisherfolks’ return to the fishing grounds without threat.
"China should see the withdrawal of US Navy patrols in the area as an act of goodwill from the Philippines that will pave the way for more productive bilateral dialogues. Putting an end to joint US-PH patrols in the West Philippine Sea is by itself an assertion of Philippine sovereign right over territorial waters," said Brosas.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=931108
Of course the commie congresspersons mentioned above oppose joint RP-US naval patrols. Their objective is to push for the abrogation of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The commies want to eliminate any US military presence in the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteThe Gabriela Women's Party (GWP) is a political spinoff from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) sectoral front for women, the General Assembly Binding Woment for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action (GABRIELA).
Oh, by the way, some folks have short memories. I seem to remember that we didn't seem to have a problem with Chinese intrusion into areas claimed by the Philippines in the Spratlys until, rightly or wrongly, the Philippine Senate decided to abrogate the RP-US bases agreement in 1992. By 1994-1995 the Chinese had built its initial structures at Mischief Reef, within two-three years after the removal of US bases from the Philippines. Coincidence??? I think not.
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