Sotto backs Senate's West PH sea resolution with a "few amendments"

May 06, 2021 07:11 PM

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III intends to pass the West Philippine Sea resolution with a few amendments.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the resolution filed by his fellow lawmakers has a good chance of being passed with some amendments. 

Senate Resolution No. 708 condemning China's illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea was filed last week by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, and Senators Nancy Binay, Leila de Lima, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., and Joel Villanueva. 

When asked whether he will back the measure once discussed in the plenary, Sotto told reporters, "Yes, with a few amendments.” He did not, however, specify his proposed revisions. 

Less than half of the Senate has already signed the proposed resolution, which aims for the legislative branch to “condemn in the strongest possible terms" China's incursions in some parts of the West Philippine Sea. 

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, meanwhile, did not sign the measure. He noted that it needed a more appropriate language, and suggested including a review on the Philippines' diplomatic relations with China. 

Chinese militia and fishing vessels have been encroaching the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) since March. China continues to reject the Philippines' win in the Hague ruling since 2016, which awarded the country sovereign rights to territories within its EEZ.