Make a stand on WPS

The report about China’s missile testing in the West Philippine Sea is quite disturbing. This action is beyond the international norms and must be stopped soonest. They do not own that area. The international community should not be silent on this development on the Philippine waters. This is not disputed anymore because there’s a ruling by The Hague that the Philippines own that territory.

From the ramming incident of Filipino boat in Recto Bank, to the illegal fishing operations, and now this missile test. A lot is at stake in here, not only the aquatic resources that they continually damage but the lives of the Filipino.

I am somehow desensitized on these issues because the Philippine government has no concrete actions on this matter. Yes, we have Coast Guard and Navy patrolling in the area, but how about being clear on the international policy if there is any?

Are we going to watch the poachers slowly destroying our resources?

Will we let them continue to rob us of about P33.1 billion annually from the damaged reef ecosystems at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and the Spratly Islands mainly due to China’s reclamation activities and illegal fishing operations?

Are we going to close our eyes and let them continue these violations? Are we frighten by the fact that they already have missiles in our territory??

I myself, does not have anything in mind that can stop Chinese poachers; what I have right now is the desire to make a stand to protect our territory and let the authorities, the leaders of this nation to make the necessary actions. Because for one, they are mandated by our Constitution to protect our sovereignty.

At the end of the day, an ordinary citizen like me can only submit these concerns to the hands of our almighty God.

— REGINE AGAPAY