Reports that a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel, the BRP Datu Romapenet, en route to Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea for a fisheries mission, was blocked by Chinese maritime militia ships are deeply concerning.
I urge the concerned agencies to validate this information, as the incident—if verified—would constitute a serious breach of our sovereign rights and harassment of a Philippine-flagged vessel conducting a legitimate monitoring mission within our own maritime domain.
Hindi na mabilang ang ganitong insidente na nararanasan ng ating civilian at government maritime personnel sa kamay ng dayuhang pilit tayong itinataboy sa ating sariling karagatan. Hindi natin dapat hayaan na ma-normalize ang ganitong pangliliit sa ating karapatan at ang paglalagay sa panganib ng ating mga kababayan.
If proven true, the Department of Foreign Affairs should file a diplomatic protest, demand accountability from the Chinese government, and assert our rights under international law.
Our kababayans deserve nothing less than a government that firmly stands its ground in asserting our sovereignty and defending our nation’s interest.