Diplomacy should be used to resolve Spratlys row, Golez says | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

Diplomacy should be used to resolve Spratlys row, Golez says | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

Diplomacy should be used to resolve Spratlys row, Golez says

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 06/11/2011 2:12 PM | Updated as of 06/11/2011 11:30 PM


MANILA, Philippines – Countries should pursue diplomacy to resolve the Spratlys row and to prevent any untoward incident, Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez said.

In a phone interview with radio dzMM on Saturday, Golez said the United States, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, may step into the dispute in the event of a violation to the freedom of navigation in the Palawan Passage, which Golez called “one of the busiest sea lanes in the world.”

“Kung magkaroon ng balakid sa freedom of navigation, ako’y nakatitiyak na may ibang pwersa na papasok diyan kasama na ang Estados Unidos. Kaya dapat ngayon pa lang diplomasiya ang gamitin diyan para hindi humantong sa ganyang klaseng gulo,” he said.

The Parañaque congressman noted that although the US is obligated to support the Philippines because of the Mutual Defense Treaty, lines are blurred when it comes to disputed islands.

“Hindi malinaw kapag pinapag-usapan ang mga isla diyan sa South China Sea. Hindi katulad kapag pinasok ang kilalang teritoryo ng Pilipinas,” he said.

US warship

Meanwhile, Armed Forces chief of staff General Eduardo Oban Jr. clarified in a separate interview on Saturday that a US warship set to arrive in Palawan next week has nothing to do with the Spratlys dispute.

Oban said the arrival of the USS Chung-Hoon is part of the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) program that aims to improve the military’s defense capabilities.

“Ito ay bahagi ng ating 11th CARAT exercise na ginaganap taun-taon. Walang dapat ipangamba ang sambayanan ukol dito,” he said.

House Resolution 1401

Golez earlier passed House Resolution 1401 to express the sense of the House that it supports the Foreign Affairs Department’s statement that the issue should be brought to the United Nations.

He said the Philippines should not be fearful of voicing its concerns against China’s intrusions.

“Modern na ang buhay natin ngayon. Nakikinig ang buong daigdig. Kung tayo ay tatahimik dito, lalo tayong lulupigin at sisikilin ng isang bully katulad ng Tsina,” he said.

“Kahit anong laki ng bully na iyan ay makikinig din iyan at, hopefully, mare-restrain iyong pagiging ganid pagdating sa teritoryo. Ako’y naniniwala na may pagka-ganid ang Tsina sa kanilang ginagawa ngayon,” Golez added.