- PALACE
MANILA, JUNE 21,
2011 (STAR) By Jaime
Laude - A Philippine Navy supply ship has reached Pag-Asa Island in the Kalayaan
Island Group in the Spratlys and has unloaded troops and fresh provisions.
The BRP Benguet (LST 507) dropped anchor off Pag-Asa Island the other day but
has yet to complete unloading its cargo of food and other supplies due to bad
weather, according to a source.
"Our Navy supply ship arrived there the other day but it is still unloading
supplies," the Palawan-based source told The STAR yesterday.
The ship will return to its base in Palawan today if it completes its
delivery. The source did not say how many troops were brought in or if some had
been pulled out after completing their one-month tour of duty.
Nine civilian residents of Pag-Asa, including an infant, were among the
passengers of the ship.
Pag-Asa, also called Isla, is home to 60 civilians. It is the biggest of the
seven islets occupied by Filipino troops in the Kalayaan group. A retired
administrator of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Palawan,
Eugenio Bito-onon Jr., is mayor of Kalayaan.
The arrival of the Benguet came amid increasing tensions in the West
Philippine Sea stoked by reports of intrusions by Chinese vessels and aircraft
into areas within Philippine jurisdiction.
The Philippines has deployed its biggest warship, World War II-era BRP Rajah
Humabon, "for routine patrol within the country's territorial waters" near
Palawan.
Aside from China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also have claims in the
Spratly Islands. The area is believed to contain huge deposits of oil and gas.
Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay declined to comment if the Benguet had
indeed already reached Pag-Asa.
No agitation
At Malacañang, officials said their statements reiterating the country's
right to defend its territories were not meant to agitate China.
"I do not view this as an agitation and I don't think the Chinese would view
it as an agitation either. We're trying to communicate with many audiences here,
the international community is just one audience," Secretary Ricky Carandang of
the President's Communications group said.
He was reacting to proposals for Palace spokespersons including himself to
desist from making any more statements that could hurt the country's diplomatic
ties with China.
"In my view, the people also want to know what is the Aquino government's
take and what it is doing to protect its territory on the issue of the West
Philippine Sea. So, I think this will not make it worse if we explain it to the
public," he said in Filipino.
"We're not agitating the situation. If you listen to what Lacierda and I and
Valte have been saying about these issues with regard to West Philippine Sea,
we've been very deliberate, we've been very careful in our statements,"
Carandang stressed. He was referring to palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda and
deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte.
He admitted that their statements were sometimes "lost in translation" in
media.
"But in our view, we did nothing wrong in explaining to the public what the
government is doing on this issue. We're trying to communicate with many
audiences here," he said.
"The issue with China has been dealt with on a number of levels. There is the
level that the public sees through the media. There is the diplomatic level.
There are also discussions on the ASEAN level. So there are many levels,"
Carandang pointed out.
He also stressed that the Rajah Humabon would not sail beyond the country's
territorial waters. "No, it's not going beyond our waters and I think we have
sovereign right to take our vessels and travel within our territory anytime we
want to," he said.
No need for NSC meet
Malacañang also said there was no need to convene the National Security
Council (NSC) as proposed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, despite the
West Philippine Sea situation.
Carandang said the Philippines would continue discussions with China through
all channels to ease the simmering tensions. He also denied allegations that the
Palace did not want former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo invited to the meeting.
He said the visit of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to China is a welcome
development as it would give him the chance to discuss with Chinese officials
improving bilateral ties.
The Palace earlier welcomed statements from the United States, Australia and
members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) calling for a
peaceful resolution of the West Philippine Sea dispute.
Carandang said he was not aware of any plans to convene the NSC for the West
Philippine Sea issue. He said this would be up to the security cluster members
to decide.
"Certainly, Senator Enrile's words have much weight. Let the security cluster
decide whether the National Security Council should already be convened. But
certainly, Senator Enrile's opinions will be taken into account," Carandang
said.
"I'm sure this (proposal) will reach the national security cluster and they
will consider if they need to convene the National Security (Council)," he said.
Carandang also said there are different approaches to tackling security
issues aside from convening the NSC where past presidents would have to be
invited.
"You have the National Security Cluster which is the primary mechanism for
addressing these issues. In our view, the response of the government on what is
happening is enough," Carandang said.
"We have a natural security cluster, the main mechanism that we use to deal
with security issues," he said.
"At this time, it seems the attention being given is sufficient as well as
the steps being taken by the security cluster to address this issue," Carandang
said.
Assurance, again
A United States defense official, meanwhile, reiterated his country's
readiness to assist the Philippines in its defense needs.
In a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine embassy in
Washington said Vice Admiral William E. Landay III, Director of the Defense
Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), gave the assurance recently during a meeting
with Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia.
In the meeting, Cuisia highlighted the excellent working relationship among
agencies of the two countries in exploring avenues for better security
cooperation, address common concerns and advance mutual interests. He cited the
assistance provided by the US to modernize the Philippine military.
"He (Landay) remarked that the US stands ready to assist the Philippines in
its defense needs," the embassy said.
US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. last week made the same assurance and
stressed the preeminence of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
in settling territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea.
In May, Washington assured the Philippines of its commitment to help
"whenever the country is in harm's way."
The Philippines has brought the matter before the United Nations.
Meanwhile, Marbel, South Cotabato Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez said the country
should be prepared to defend its territory even with its antiquated ships.
"We have to defend that (Spratly Islands). We should ask the United Nations
to define our territory. I think it was defined even before. But once again, we
have to define our territory, we have to defend it even if we would use our
oldest and biggest naval ship," Gutierrez said over the Church-run Radio
Veritas.
He added that asserting the Philippines' right over the disputed territory
would unite Filipinos.
"It will ignite the Filipino's patriotism. Why (should) we allow China to
bully us, it is a very righteous cause of our land. We should continue educating
our people and let us pursue our case before the United Nations," the
Mindanao-based prelate said.
But diplomacy should prevail, Gutierrez said, adding he is not against the
idea of putting up more structures "even a small one" with a Philippine flag in
Spratlys.
"We could also put people there and just supply them with food," he said.
With Aurea Calica, Pia Lee-Brago, Delon Porcalla, Evelyn
Macairan
Change 'South China Sea' to 'Southeast Asia Sea' -
petition (The Philippine Star) Updated June 21, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - A petition to change the name "South China Sea" to
"Southeast Asia Sea" has been launched, with 43,109 signatures posted online so
far for its approval.
According to online social network www.Changeorg., the Nguyen Thai Hoc
Foundation, a group of volunteers campaigning for "a modern and civilized
attitude" around the world, started the petition in November last year.
In its petition, the group said the United Nations has officially recognized
Southeast Asia as a region encompassing almost the entire South China Sea.
The South China Sea has a coastline of about 130,000 kilometers (81,250
miles) while Southern China's coastline measured only about 2,800 kilometers
(1,750 miles), it explained.
"The freedom of navigation on the sea is not restricted to a specific country
and is a common heritage of mankind," the group said.
"It has actually been used by the international community for centuries as
the second most important water channel in the world, and therefore must be
considered a common ground."
The petition had been sent to presidents and prime ministers of the 11
Southeast Asian countries, the Secretary General of the United Nations, the
United Nations Atlas of the Oceans, Geographic Society of 10 countries,
including Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, India, Japan,
South Korea, United Kingdom, Russia, and the United States, and over 10,000
people from 77 countries around the world.
"In this modern era, as human civilization evolved towards a multi-faceted
global collaboration, the international community, since the 20th century, has
geographically formed a sub-region in Asia to address mankind's need," the group
said.
"This region was officially named Southeast Asia and consists of Burma,
Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand,
the Philippines, and Vietnam."
"Southeast Asia represents approximately 600 million people who have, in a
joint effort, made unique and original contributions to modern civilization in
culture, science, education, economics, politics."
South China Sea must therefore be named Southeast Asia Sea, the group said.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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