A militant group called ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap ignorant of the law and dreaming when he said that officials should not be alarmed by China’s continuous construction in the West Philippine Sea, claiming the structures could be transferred to the Philippines once the arbitral ruling is fully enforced.
“Halimbawa na lang natin sa lupa na mayroon tayong dispute at yung isang mas malaking pwersa, mayroon siyang mga military na pinalibutan ang ating lupa. Nagtayo sila ng structure doon sa ating lupa kung saan tayo may claim. Definitely, kapag tayo ay nanalo sa Korte, yung kanilang itinayo ay mapupunta sa atin dahil atin ang lupa,” Yap said during the House deliberation.
The Pentagon’s report to the United States Congress earlier stated that Beijing had seven Chinese military outposts in the Kalayaan Group of Islands, even though it was part of Philippine territory.
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) lashed out at Yap’s statements, especially since it seems to be underestimating the Asian giant’s occupation of sovereign rights granted by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Philippines in 2016.
“This is just extremely unbecoming of a legislator to undermine our sovereign and territorial rights,” said Hicap this Tuesday, who was also a legislator under the Anakpawis party-list.
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Yap ‘ignorant’ and ‘daydreaming’
“Rep. Yap should be ashamed of himself for setting aside a pressing national issue that involves our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“Nothing to be afraid of with China’s massive reclamation and exploitation of our territorial waters? Tell that to the Filipino fishers whose fishing activities have been adversely affected by the presence of Chinese personnel and vessels in our own traditional fishing grounds,” the PAMALAKAYA leader added.
“Inspire the F/B Gem-Ver 22 to quench the fear after being rammed by a Chinese vessel and left at the mercy of the elements,” he added.
He said that while Yap was under the illusion of a “day of reckoning,” China occupied some waters and reefs in the West Philippine Sea while transforming it into a military outpost.