Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Thursday said that if he is elected president in next year’s elections, his administration will be “fearless” in fighting for the country’s territorial waters amid reports of another incident in the West Philippine Sea.
“We will be fearless in fighting for what is ours. We will insist on the Hague Ruling. But at the same time as being fearless, we are going to be fair with our discussion and management of the situation on both sides,” Moreno said.
“We will be faithful to our farmers and fisherfolks. Fishermen should be able to fish within our territorial sea. And that is what will happen: undeterred, peaceful, and productive fishing opportunities under our rules. Filipino fishermen first,” Moreno said.
Quoting a report from the AFP’s Western Command in Palawan, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., said three Chinese Coast Guard vessels on November 16 blocked and water cannoned two Philippine supply boats who on its way to transport food supplies to Philippine military personnel in Ayungin Shoal.
The Ayungin Shoal, also known as the Second Thomas shoal, is a shoal or atoll in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea, 105 nautical miles west of Palawan. Claimed by several nations, the shoal is currently occupied by the Philippines.
Locsin has already conveyed in the strongest terms to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing the country’s “outrage, condemnation and protest of the incident.”
Locsin also reminded China that a public vessel is covered by the Philippines-United States Mutual Defense Treaty.
Moreno, the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet, also reiterated that the Visiting Forces Agreement and Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States will not only be honored but will be reinforced if he wins in the 2022 elections.
“The MDT will be recognized, definitely. Treaties will be recognized. Trade with America, Vietnam, China, and all other nations will continue because the West Philippine Sea issue is far different from our economic and trade issues. We will take that as an opportunity for us to gain, for the people to gain, for our country to gain. And that includes the Visiting Forces Agreement with United States. In fact, I will reinforce it,” Moreno said.
To ensure that Filipino soldiers will be better equipped and ready to protect the country both internally and externally, Moreno said he is in favor of expanding the training exercises between the United States Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“I will increase their training coverage so that more Filipino uniformed personnel can be trained. Why not? Especially I need a lot of strategic planning or some materials that protects the shores, all across from Tawi-Tawi to Batanes,” Moreno stressed.
“You’ll never know. If they leave their ground to air missile, the Filipino soldier will know how to use it. Or someday we don’t have to buy, have an accident there, our country is protected. Because that is supposed to be the act of the leader. It is always the people. The people, our people, nothing more, nothing less,” Moreno said.