THE PHILIPPINE STAR

THE PHILIPPINE 5TAR

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ALEXIS ROMERO He was reacting to a news

report on the presence of Cfu- tense _ A, 9a;np Aguinaldo, de- nos whose liyq5 s1d livelihood China seized it. The problem at stake here," Diokno said.
( Departing fuom its usual ap- nese vessels off. depaftment spokesman arcatstake," Rep. Tom Villarin is how to take it back, he said. Panelo criticized Diokno
Kota Islahd Arsenio Andolong said the of party-tist Akbayan said. Beijing now controls pana-
peasement of Beiiing Malaca- and Panatag (Scarborougll and other opposition bets after
tung yesterday made it clear it Shoal last March 28. military is ready to defend the He iaid the Department of tag Shoa"l, which is iust 120
- country's they visited Masinloc in Zam-
fuould consider Chinese pres- sovereignty if chal- Foreign Affairs (DFA) "has a miles off Zambales ui,d pun- bales to hold a dialogue with
Earlie{, the military reported lenged. history of lyine." gasinan. It is Baio de Masirlloc
]hce near islands occupied by that hundreds of local fisherfolk on Chinese
Chinede ves-
llipinos an assault on-Philip- sels - believed to be militia crqlt "While we denounce war as - "List yeir, Ihe department io fishermen in the two prov- encroachmenf-
an instrument ofnational policy, claimed tb have fi.led 50 to 100 rnces. The opposition senatorial
)lne soverelgnty. disguised as fishingboats -hays we will use whatever reso'rces protests
"While we remain friendlv been swarming around Pag-asa to china but could not China grabbed it in 2072 bets also.challenged President
and
iith respect to trade rela- Island in the Kalayaan Island defend our own if means at our disposal to produce them when asked. The after a tenie standoff between Duterte to inake good his 2016
ions, we will alwavs assert Group since and when bnus is on Seo€tary Locsin to the Philippine Nar"y and the campaign promise to ride a iet
overeignty when if is being
January. we are called to action by the reveal details of the protests,', Chinese Cbast Guari. ski to Panatag to dramatize
"They leave the place, 1 ' Nadonal Command'Aut-horiry he said. Accordins to then oresi-
mpaired or assaulted," presi- mean they cannot be stavir.' o his fight for the country's sov-
lential spokesman Salvador there," he said. r 'o (NCA)" Andolong siid. He said Filipinos have the dent Benieni Aouino IiL the ereignty.
)anelo said at a press "This includes t}!e Munici- right to know what their gov- rwo sides"withdrbw under an "Standing firm against Chi-
briefing. Asked whether there's now
"If they continue to be pres- justification for Duterte to raise pality of Kalayaan, which is ernment is doing to eniure agreement the United States na's encroachment is not a
nt in our territorv then it is an before China the 2016 arbitral
pafl ot the province of Pala- the safefy of residents of the brokered, but that Chinese publicjty stunl" Diokno said.
ssault to our sorj'ereignfy," he ruling invalidaiing Beijing,g
wan," he said. Kalayaari istets. \,illarin noted ships later returned and have "Publicity stunt is singinq and I
As chinese vessels continue that Filipino civilians and sol- binie been zuarding the shoal dancing which the Huglong
dded. claim in the South China Sea to circle Pag-asa, Pandtag and
Panelo emphasized the Chi- and West Philippine Sea, pan- diersare living on Pag-asa, the and reporte'd lv harissine Fili- ng Pagbabago is doing."
other land features in the West largest of the islands. pino fiihermeir. Diokno also called on his
ese have "no business being elo said the decision is up
to Philipprnesea, Akbayan pa-rty- Locsin has said the public ' otso Diretso senatorial can- fellow candidates, particularlv
l€re," ihe President. list y_esterday said Foreign AI- would just have to tai(e his didate Chel Diokno, mean-
]
administration beti, to speai<
iai's seqetary Teodoro LocsinJr. word that the DtA has pro- while, chided panelo for call- up for the Filipinos on the iisue.
should djsclose the diplomatic tested the presence of a lirge ing the opposition candidates' "We are all Filipinos re-l
notes filed agairst Beiiing. number.of ilhinesq ships in ifie figlt for'the country's sover- gardless of our poliiical affili-
"We dare the DFA secretary Kalayaan area. efnry in the West fhifippine ations. IYs time to defend our
to make the protests publii. Hi was quoted as sayinA Se-a a'publicitv stunt. ' ' he said. - With |ess
There's no reason to keep the that the country owned th6 ,,lf; the liv;s and livelihood country,"
Diaz, Pia Lee-Brago, Cecille
documents away from Filipi- west Philippine sea but that of our fellow Filipinos that are Suerte Felipe, Helen FIores

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