Hontiveros files reso declaring July 12 as National West PH Sea Victory Day

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday filed a resolution declaring July 12 as the “National West Philippine Sea Victory Day,” in commemoration of the Philippines’ 2016 triumph at the Hague, and in honor of the efforts of the late former President Noynoy Aquino’s administration in securing this landmark legal victory.

“PNoy is the father of our 2016 victory at The Hague,” the senator said.

“If not for his unwavering commitment to put the Philippines first, we would not have been awarded a landmark legal decision in international law, which established our credibility in the global arena. Nang dahil sa tagumpay natin sa The Hague, buo ang loob ng international community na kumampi sa Pilipinas sa bawat pagmamalabis ng Tsina,” Hontiveros said in filing Proposed Senate Resolution 762.

The resolution states that after Chinese vessels began excluding Filipino fisherfolk from their traditional fishing grounds in Panatag Shoal and other parts of the WPS, it was President Benigno Simeon Aquino III who led the Philippine government in initiating arbitration proceedings against the People’s Republic of China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands, to uphold the country’s sovereign rights in the WPS.

“PNoy was a true patriot. Even when the Philippines was going against the Goliath that is China, he pursued the case merely on the principle that it was the right thing to do. He would often say ‘the Filipino is worth fighting for,’ and this particular fight is undisputed proof that he kept his word,” Hontiveros said.

She added that having a day to remember and celebrate this win is also “a way to counter mis- and disinformation that deliberately diminishes our 2016 victory.”

“Marami ang nagmamaliit sa tagumpay na ito. Marami rin ang mga fake news na nakikita natin na kesyo si PNoy daw ang dahilan kung bakit nawala sa atin ang ating mga teritoryo. Let’s stop all these lies once and for all through correctly remembering his leadership,” Hontiveros said.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)