Senators unite behind resolution blasting China harassment in WPS

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATORS unanimously adopted Resolution 718 that strongly condemns the continued harassment of Filipino fishermen and the incursions in the West Philippine Sea by Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels.

The resolution also listed options that the Philippine government may undertake to assert and secure the country’s sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, namely:

- Bringing international attention to China’s harassment of Filipino fisher- men in the Philippine EEZ and its continued violation of the Hague Ruling and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;

- Utilizing international fora to rally multilateral support for the enforcement of the Hague Ruling and raise awareness on the real situation in the West Philippine Sea;

- Engaging like-minded countries in various international organizations, meetings, and other fora to call on China to respect the Hague Ruling and the UNCLOS; who is abroad and refuses to come home citing threats to his safety, said.

“There is no such thing.”

His camp also denounced the move, accusing the government of abusing the congressman’s constitutional rights and embarking on a massive media cam- paign to discredit him.

Meanwhile, the House ethics committee will resume its probe of Teves for the third time after his second 60day suspension from Congress expired yesterday.