Ex-solon and fisherfolk leader calls Rep. Yap a “daydreamer, ignorant of sovereign laws”
Manila, Philippines – Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Representative Eric Yap has earned the ire of the militant fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) over the former’s “dismissive” remark on the Chinese occupation of the West Philippine Sea.
Rep. Yap during a house plenary deliberations on the 2021 budget yesterday said that the “country should not be scared” by the Chinese construction activities in the Philippine waters as “these facilities would eventually be owned by the Philippines on the day of reckoning”.
In a statement, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson Fernando Hicap lambasted Yap for his “disregard on the Chinese violation of our sovereign rights through reclamation and occupation of West Philippine Sea”.
“This is just extremely unbecoming of a legislator to undermine our sovereign and territorial rights. Rep. Yap should be ashamed of himself for setting aside a pressing national issue that involves our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Hicap, also former Anakpawis Party-list solon said.
The former solon castigated the rookie legislator for being “ignorant” of the situation of the Filipino fishers who are directly affected by the Chinese aggression in the Philippine waters.
“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. 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,” Hicap lambasted, referring to the hit-and-run incident involving a Filipino fishing boat and Chinese vessel in Recto Bank last year.
“While Rep. Yap is deluded by the illusion of a ‘day of reckoning’, China meanwhile, is rapidly occupying and transforming our territorial waters into military outpost. Day of reckoning has to start somewhere and sometime; what better place than here, what better time than now? And it should be a result of an active and decisive assertion by the Filipino people and the Philippine government,” ended Hicap. ###
The State shall protect the nations marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.
1987 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, ARTICLE XII, NATIONAL ECONOMY AND PATRIMONY
