Statement of Senator Loren Legarda on the recent incident at the West Philippine Sea

We strongly condemn the recent actions of the Chinese Coast Guard against the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3302) while operating from Hasa-Hasa Shoal to Escoda Shoal.

The Hasa-Hasa (Half-Moon) Shoal and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal are both legally and rightfully within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The resupply mission of BRP Datu Sanday is entirely legitimate and well within our jurisdiction and sovereign rights.

The ramming, blasting of horns, and use of water cannons on our vessels are not only illegal but inhumane and cruel to safety of those at sea.

We echo the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea’s (NTF-WPS) call on the government of the People’s Republic of China to immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels. These actions undercut regional peace and security.
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Mariin nating kinokondena ang mga aksyon ng Chinese Coast Guard laban sa barko ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) na BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3302), na naglalakbay mula sa Hasa-Hasa Shoal hanggang Escoda Shoal.

Ang Hasa-Hasa (Half-Moon) Shoal at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal ay parehong legal na sakop ng 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas sa ilalim ng 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Ang resupply mission ng BRP Datu Sanday ay lehitimo at nasa loob ng ating hurisdiksyon at mga karapatan sa soberanya.

Ang pagbangga, pagbusina, at paggamit ng water cannons sa ating mga barko ay hindi lamang ilegal kundi hindi makatao at malupit sa kaligtasan ng mga nasa karagatan.

Inuulit natin ang panawagan ng National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) sa People’s Republic of China na agarang itigil ang lahat ng mapangahas at mapanganib na gawain kontra sa mga barko ng Pilipinas. Ang mga aksyon na ito ay nagpapahina sa kapayapaan at seguridad ng rehiyon.