De Lima Accuses Duterte of ‘Diluting’ West PHL Sea Ruling to Appease China

Senator Leila de Lima accused President Rodrigo Duterte of attempting to appease China by allegedly “trying to dilute” an international tribunal's ruling on the West Philippine Sea dispute between the two countries.

In a media briefing Thursday, De Lima criticized Duterte for allegedly diminishing the gains of the Philippines’ victory against China in the South China Sea, parts of which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

“Huwag natin waldasin ‘yung gains na nakuha natin, ‘yung victory, ‘yung triumph natin in that monumental case na nabilib sa atin ang buong mundo na ginawa natin ‘yun at nanalo tayo dun,” De Lima said.

“Tayo pa mismo ang nagmamaliit doon sa significance ng ruling na ‘yan just to appease China,” she added.

After his state visit to Beijing last week, Duterte said he “will not impose now” on finding a resolution to the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China.

"I will not insist now. I will not impose now. I will not go to war now. I will not waste the lives of my soldiers," Duterte said.

In contrast, De Lima said the government should instead be asserting the ruling released by the Permanent Court of Arbitration last July.

“Dapat nasa period dapat tayo ng enforcement or assertion of the ruling pero ginagawa ba natin? Hindi,” she said.

“Parang baliktad ang ginagawa ngayon ng Pangulo. Siya mismo ang nangunguna in trying to dilute if not weaken the import and significance of that ruling,” De Lima added.

De Lima said if former President Benigno Aquino III was still the chief executive, he would now be soliciting the support of the international community.

Tthe Philippines had filed the arbitration case against China during Aquino's term.

“Kung si president PNoy pa rin ang pangulo, yan ang ginagawa niya ngayon to enforce, to try to enforce, try to seek and solicit the support of the international cmmunity to put the pressure on China to recognize the ruling of the arbitral tribunal,” she said.

De Lima reminded Duterte of the possible “consequences” of his statements concerning the Philippines’ territorial claims.

“He may be held accountable under the Constitution,” De Lima said as she agreed with the opinion of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio that giving up the country’s sovereignty over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal could be a ground to impeach Duterte.

De Lima said Filipino fishermen do not need the authority of China to fish in the disputed Panatag Shoal, which is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales.

“Hindi yan pag-aari ng China, hindi rin ng Pilipinas pero may common rights to fish and utilize, exploit the resources in the Scarborough Shoal,” she said. — VVP, GMA News

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Kung ganyan ang pananaw mo ma'am De Lima, bakit hindi mo subukang sumama dun sa mga mangingisda sa WestPH na naranasang bombahin ng mas malalaking barko ng Tsina. Isa pa, walang batayan ang sinasabi mong dinilute o pinawalang bisa ni President Duterte ang ruling o yung pag kapanalo natin (napakalayo naman ng pagkaunawa mo).

Malinaw na sinabi niya, hindi ito ang tamang panahon. Dahil kung ipipilit mo yan ngayon, digmaan lang ang paraan para makuha natin ng agresibo yang isla na yan at yun ata talaga ang gusto mong mangyari madam?