De Lima pushes for laws that assert, not just defend, PH’s WPS rights
Leila de Lima FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Rep. Leila de Lima called for a more assertive response to China’s aggressive acts in the West Philippine Sea, nine years after the Philippines’ 2016 arbitral win in The Hague.
De Lima said on Saturday in a statement commemorating the landmark arbitral win that legislation should be used not just as a form of defense but as a weapon for advancing the country’s maritime rights.
READ: AFP continues to uphold arbitral ruling over West PH Sea claim
Lawmakers who dub themselves the “West Philippine Sea” bloc filed measures on July 9 in the House of Representatives, aiming to translate the arbitral ruling into concrete policies through education reforms, civic commemoration, and a review of ties with Chinese local governments.
“These measures represent a new, impactful phase in our struggle, one that is legislative, educational, and unapologetically assertive,” De Lima said.
“Panahon na para ang batas natin ay maging sandata, higit pa sa pagiging depensa (It’s time for our laws to serve as weapons, not just as a line of defense),” she added.
Among these is House Bill No. 1625, which mandates the integration of the historical and legal basis of Philippine claims to the West Philippine Sea into the primary and secondary education curriculum.
“We cannot expect our youth to defend what they do not understand,” De Lima said, adding: “Knowledge is the first act of patriotism.”
The bloc also filed House Bill No. 1626, which proposes to declare July 12 as the National West Philippine Sea Victory Day, a holiday that would serve as a civic reminder that sovereignty must be remembered and reaffirmed each year.
In addition, House Resolution No. 39 calls for a review of sister-city agreements with Chinese municipalities, which De Lima called “walang saysay (meaningless)” with China’s continued aggression and disregard for Philippine sovereignty.
De Lima said these steps aim to transform the arbitral victory into lived policy.
On July 12, 2016, an arbitral tribunal that heard the Philippines’ case against China ruled in Manila’s favor, rejecting Beijing’s expansive nine-dash-line claims in the South China Sea. /jpv
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