Lawyers’ group denounces
been troubled by the same provocative acts in calling for a cessation to distraction we can ill-afford. Our battle against the pandemic must be global, coordinated and harmonious,” the group said.
“[We join states] in inviting China to join with Asean countries in combating this terrible scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic,” it added.
The group said China violated the rights of the Philippines amid the continued presence of its vessels within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
It said China’s claims based on historic rights must be resolved in the manner that the international law, both conventional and customary, provides.
Members of the group include former associate justice Adolf Azcuna, former Department of Environment and Natural Resources undersecretary Antonio La Viña and Fr. Ranhilio Callangan
Aquino, among others.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said the Philippines must stand on its two feet amid the reef row over the presence of China’s vessels in the West Philippine Sea as it rejected calls to strengthen ties with other allies.
In his press briefing, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. pointed out that the United States failed to defend the Philippines in the past even with the existing Mutual Defense Treaty.
“Ang naging karanasan po natin bagamat meron dung nakasulat na tayo’y bibigyan ng saklolo ’pag tayo’y nalusob e nawalan po tayo ng dalawang isla, na wala naman po tayo nakuhang tulong dun sa ating kapartido sa Mutual Defense Treaty na Estados Unidos (Based on our experience, even as the defense pact provides that we will be given aid when attacked, we lost two islands, we did not get help from the United States),” he said.
“So ang leksyon po natin kinakailangan tumayo sa dalawang mga paa (So the lesson there is that we need to stand on our two feet),” Roque said.
He added the country has been cooperating with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries and other ally countries in upholding the “freedom of the high seas.”
Roque defended President Rodrigo Duterte amid his silence on the issue, saying the President is not really silent as he is speaking through his alter egos, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.
“Kapag hindi po dini-disown ng Presidente ang sinasabi ng kaniyang mga alter egos, parang siya na po ang nagsasalita, hindi na siya kinakailangang magsalita (If the President does not disown the statements of his alter egos, it is as if he is the one speaking, he does not need to speak),” he said.