By Junex Doronio
SOUNDS LIKE CAMARINES SUR REPRESENTATIVE LRay Villafuerte hit it on the nail when he proposed that the government should accelerate plans for the conduct of joint maritime patrols with the United States and other allies in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The 55-year-old Bicolano lawmaker who’s also president of National Unity Party president (NUP) on Tuesday expressed confidence that the joint maritime patrol will “put an end to Beijing’s bullying” in the area.
“Beijing’s nonstop, increasingly dangerous and provocative incursions in breach of our national sovereignty and sovereign rights over the WPS must stop sooner than later,” Villafuerte stressed.
He noted that the latest collision and water cannon incidents off Ayungin Shoal only showed “a serious escalation of the illegal activities of China in Philippine territory in utter disregard of international law.”
It can be recalled that Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela reported last week that 38 larger fleet vessels from China were spotted during a resupply mission for soldiers stationed in BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal last November 10.
“As the government fast-tracks our AFP modernization program to beef up our external defense in the long haul, what needs to be done right now is for our defense and security establishment to beef up our maritime protection through the quickest way possible, which is via joint sails— hopefully before the year is over—with the US and other like-minded allies that want to preserve peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” Villafuerte pressed.
(ai/mnm)
