Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday, August 8 has urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will uphold the country’s sovereign rights on the West Philippine Sea with the help of the global community. 

Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go (Photo courtesy of O/S Bong Go)

Being the chief architect of the country’s foreign policy, Go appealed to the President to continue to safeguard the safety of Filipinos and the country’s national interests. The senator said he is confident President Marcos will uphold the country's sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea with the assistance of international partners.

 

Reflecting on the pivotal South China Sea Arbitration ruling, Go pointed out that then President Rodrigo Duterte had also brought up the 2016 Hague ruling in his bilateral talks with China. 

“Former president Duterte brought it up so many times during his bilateral talks before with China. But the question is who will enforce? And who can enforce it?” Go said.

Go, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense pointed out that the WPS issue does not solely concern the Philippines, but also the entire world. 

At the same time, he called on members of the international community to demonstrate their sincerity, not just in words, but in actions, in respecting other nations. 

At the same time, Go expressed confidence on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for standing their ground in protecting the country’s national interest. 

That is why he said he encourages continued support for AFP modernization. Go had filed Senate Bill No. 2112, which aims to modernize the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

 

“This is to enable them to acquire new equipment, infrastructure, training and manpower so they can fully guard our borders,” Go said.

“Let us always be reminded that 'What is ours is ours.' Let us fight and pursue what is ours remains ours,” he reiterated. 

In a separate statement, Sen. Imee Marcos also condemned the Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) water cannot attack on the PCG’s resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal last week.

Marcos, chairperson of the Senate foreign affairs committee, pointed out that the Philippines and China are co-signatories of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which upholds the concepts of sovereign rights within a country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and of innocent passage within a country's territorial sea. 

“It is urgent for the Foreign Affairs and Defense departments to demand an explanation from their Chinese counterparts for the unwarranted and patently illegal firing of a water cannon on our Coast Guard,” Marcos said.

“We must also see to it that our Coast Guard becomes better equipped but relies less on foreign countries that have their own national interests to pursue,” she added.