AKBAYAN SOLON SPEARHEADED RAISING OF PHL FLAG ON DISPUTED PAG-ASA ISLAND
MANILA, JULY 22, 2011 (STAR) By Jun Pasaylo [PHOTO - The Pag-Asa Island in the disputed territories of Spratlys. (Image from Phl.ph)]
Two 12-seater planes carrying five lawmakers, high ranking military officials, and foreign and local media touched down on the Philippine-claimed Pag-Asa Island in the disputed territory of Spratlys past 10:00 a.m. today.
Upon arrival at the island, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello spearheaded the raising of a new Philippine flag in the area, which replaced the old and dilapidated national symbol.
"This is a historic moment for the congressional delegation. This is Philippine territory," Bello said.
"We come in peace, we support a diplomatic solution. But let there be no doubt in anybody's mind, in any foreign powers' mind that if they dare to eject us from Pagasa, Filipinos will not take that sitting down. Filipinos are born to resist aggression. Filipinos are willing to die for their soil," he added.
He also called on dozens of residents on the island to stop calling the seas that surround the island as South China Sea, but West Philippine Sea.
He asserted that the lawmakers' trip to the island was to assert the Philippines' claim to the potentially oil-rich region, in defiance of China's protest that the visit threatens regional stability.
The visitors, government employees and troops sang the national anthem after a Philippine flag was raised on the island.
Dozens of Filipino troops and sun-burned villagers welcomed the congressional delegation. Although tiny and a large part of it made up of a gravel airstrip, the island is the biggest in a cluster of the Spratly Islands that the Philippines claims as its own.
China claims the entire South China Sea and said Tuesday the trip would sabotage bilateral ties.
Earlier, Bello said: "We look forward with great expectations to landing in the Philippine territory."
Prior to their departure from Puerto Princesa City, Bello pointed out that Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command based in Palawan, had given them a "good briefing."
He said the military general emphasized the need to devote national resources to defending and developing the Spratlys in a peaceful way.
"The importance of diplomatic and multilateral negotiations is something that comes across as very important in the resolution of West Phil Sea conflicts," Bello said in his text message.
Joining Bello in the trip are Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr., Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, and Akbayan party-list Rep. Arlene "Kaka" Bagao.
China has expressed deep concern over a trip, saying it will go against a 2002 regional pact that discourages provocative actions and will serve to "sabotage" bilateral ties.
"It goes against the spirit of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and serves no purpose but to undermine peace and stability in the region and sabotage China-Philippines relationship," said Chinese Embassy spokesman Ethan Sun.
The Chinese embassy official anticipated that the visit will lit up the tension anew in the disputed territories, rendering futile the efforts of both governments to ease the rift in the area.
The visit of the House lawmakers also came as the ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and key dialogue partners like the United States and China meet at a security forum in Indonesia where the Spratly issue will be discussed.
In a press conference at Malacanang, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said he sees nothing wrong with the visit. He also echoed the Department of Foreign Affairs' statement, emphasizing that the island is considered part of Philippine territory. With Associated Press
----------------------------------------------------------
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
----------------------------------------------------------
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------
