panatag shoal

Sen. Bam asserts independence from China

As the nation celebrates Independence Day, families are drowning from rising prices and Filipino fishermen are bullied out of Philippine waters, said Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Ipinagdiriwang natin ang Araw ng Kalayaan ngunit marami sa mga kapatid nating mangingisda ay hindi malayang mangisda sa sarili nating karagatan,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Ninanakawan na at inaapi ang ating mga kapatid na mangingisda ngunit tila walang ginagawa ang pamahalaan para protektahan ang kanilang kapakanan,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam was referring to claims by several fishermen during a press conference in Malacanang that China is dictating the movement of vessels over the Panatag shoal through its coast guard ships in the area.

One of the fishermen claimed that the Chinese coast guard is blocking access of bigger Filipino fishing vessels to the shoal’s lagoon.

“We shouldn’t need China’s permission to fish in our own waters,” said Sen. Bam.

Earlier, Sen. Bam urged the Senate to take the lead in defending the country amid China’s militarization of our seas.

“If Malacañang will not side with the Filipino people on this issue, then the Senate can take the lead in defending our country,” said Sen. Bam, adding that a strong and independent Senate can and should investigate all our dealings with China, especially when the rights and livelihood of our countrymen are at risk.

Sen. Bam added that if the government continues its defeatist mentality, China will be more emboldened to commit more abuses to our territory and against the Filpino people.

Bam renews call to probe PH foreign policy, gov’t stand on Panatag Shoal, Benham Rise

A senator renewed his call to look into the country’s foreign policy direction following President Duterte’s latest pronouncements over Benham Rise and Panatag Shoal.

Last Sept. 19, 2016, Sen. Bam Aquino filed Senate Resolution No. 158, urging the government to clarify the country’s stand on different foreign policy issues. It was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations chaired by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

 Sen. Cayetano expressed willingness to conduct a hearing on the matter. However, six months had passed and, until now, no date has been set for the hearing.

 In addition, Sen. Bam insisted that the government must enlighten the Senate on the agreement that President Duterte allegedly entered into with China in connection with the Benham Rise. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), for its part, was not informed about the deal.

“Mayroon ba talagang kasunduan na nangyari? At kung mayroon man, dapat ipaalam ng pamahalaan sa Senado ang nilalaman nito upang mapag-aralan at malaman ng taong bayan,” said Sen. Bam, who plans to call officials of the DFA, Department of National Defense and the Office of the President to clarify the matter.

Last year, Sen. Bam filed the resolution due to President Duterte’s different pronouncements on important foreign policy issues.

Aside from Sen. Bam, three other senators backed the resolution, including Sens. Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan and Leila de Lima.

In a joint statement, the four senators expressed support behind Duterte’s push for an independent foreign policy but stressed that it must protect and champion the interest of the Filipino people.

The lawmakers also want the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Trade and Investments to “explain the ramifications of the President’s latest foreign policy pronouncements on Filipinos living here and abroad”.

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