PBBM reiterates PH rights in WPS; number of Chinese ships in WPS dropped
PBBM reiterates PH rights in WPS; number of Chinese ships in WPS dropped
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00One could almost feel that these past few years, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or AFP,
00:05has been longing for a president that is one with them,
00:09especially when it comes to asserting our territorial rights.
00:13That is why it was music to the ears of the men and women of the AFP
00:17that the president reiterated during his Third State of the Nation Address, or SONA,
00:22that the West Philippine Sea is ours and that we will continue to defend it from those who seek to take it from us.
00:29Patrick de Jesus tells us more.
00:46The session hall of the Batasang Pambansa was filled with applause and praise
00:51when President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. brought up in his Third State of the Nation Address
00:58the continued assertion by his administration of the country's rights in the West Philippine Sea.
01:04He also thanked the sacrifices of the personnel of the Philippine Navy,
01:09Philippine Coast Guard, and Filipino fisher folks who watch over the WPS.
01:15It is heart-warming and gives us the spirit to fight for our rights
01:22under the law and under the protection of our defense against ourselves.
01:31We are also thankful to our President and our fellow Filipinos for what we are doing in the West Philippine Sea.
01:40For the PCG, by way of yesterday's SONA,
01:44the President has brought the importance of the issue in the West Philippine Sea closer to the public.
01:50This fight of ours is for the next generation of Filipinos.
01:55This is an attack on our fellow Filipinos,
02:01most of them, so that they understand that this is not about the legacy of the President,
02:07it's not about a fight only for this administration,
02:10but this fight will continue and we have to continue doing this.
02:14The President's statement in his SONA coincided
02:18after an agreement was struck between the Philippines and China
02:22regarding the rotation resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
02:27No complete details have been publicized yet about the agreement,
02:31but it is hoped that through this,
02:34escalating tensions seen in the previous rotation resupply missions will be avoided.
02:39We will not betray our fight in the West Philippine Sea.
02:46We are still fighting for sovereignty, sovereign rights and our jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.
02:51Whatever the foreign affairs of the two countries,
02:57this is only for a peaceful and non-tensioned operation in the West Philippine Sea.
03:06We expect, we are all hopeful.
03:10In the latest monitoring by the Philippine Navy,
03:13the number of Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea
03:16has significantly dipped from over a hundred.
03:19It dropped to 80 this past week.
03:22However, China Coast Guard 5901 or the Monster Ship
03:26remains anchored in Sabina or Escoda Shoal.
03:30According to the PCG, it is only 900 meters away
03:34from their ship, the BRP Teresa Magbanua.
03:37Since July 3, the Monster Ship has been in Escoda Shoal.
03:42There are also two other China Coast Guard ships
03:45that conducted intrusive patrols near El Nido, Palawan.
03:49Patrick de Asus, from The National TV,
03:52for a new and better Philippines.