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GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Cha-cha for inclusion of WPS as PH territory, foreign ownership of public utilities eyed
The crew of the F/B John fishing vessel wave a Philippine flag as they acknowledge the presence of the Philippine Coast Guard during the Atin Ito second civilian mission to Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea in 2024. DANNY PATA A proposal amending the 1987 Constitution to include the West Philippine Sea as part of Philippine territory and lifting restrictions on foreign ownership has been filed anew in the House of Representatives. Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin made the proposal under Resolution of Both Houses 1 which amends Articles 1, 12, 14, and 16 of the Constitution. "The National Territory definition is silent on the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf na ipinanalo na natin sa arbitral tribunal. At ito ay dapat, kumbaga isaad natin. We should enshrine it in our Constitution," Garbin told reporters in an interview. (We have already won in the arbitral tribunal. This should be enshrined it in our Constitution.) Under Garbin's proposal, Article 1 on National Territory is amended to include the phrase 'the Philippines exercises sovereign rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, and its continental shelf as defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with international law." "Though it also speaks of all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, which might arguably include the exclusive economic zone, but in my humble view, it is much better that we should expressly incorporate the exclusive economic zone sa ating Saligang Batas," Garbin added. 'It is imperative and long overdue that these hard-won sovereign rights, embodying the Filipino people's unyielding resolve to defend their patrimony, be enshrined in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, to unequivocally reflect the nation's unwavering commitment to its territorial integrity, maritime heritage, and national dignity in the West Philippine Sea, in full consonance with the principles of international law and the enduring aspirations of the Filipino nation,' Garbin's resolution read. Foreign investors In the same resolution, Garbin proposed that Article 12 Section 10 be amended to 'Congress shall, upon recommendation of the economic and planning agency and when the national interest dictates, reserve certain areas of investment to citizens of the Philippines or, unless otherwise provided by law, to corporations or associations at least 60% of whose capital is owned by such citizens, or such higher percentage as Congress may prescribe, certain areas of investments." Under the current Charter, the qualifiers 'certain' and 'unless otherwise provided by law' are not present. This means that as it is, all areas of investment are reserved for Filipino citizens or corporations or associations that are 60% owned by Filipino citizens. Garbin also wants the qualifying phrase 'unless provided for by law' inserted in Articles 12, 14, and 16 to allow foreign ownership of public utilities, educational institutions, mass media and advertising industry instead of the existing limitations such as: Public utilities and educational institutions should be at least 60% owned by Filipino citizens Mass media should be 100% owned by Filipino citizens Advertising company must be 70% owned by Filipino citizens and The state should encourage equity participation in public utilities by the general public. 'The burgeoning global interest in Asia continues to position the Philippines as a prime destination for foreign investments, bolstered by its robust economic growth... This underscores the urgent need to maximize economic opportunities through constitutional reforms to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth for all Filipinos,' Garbin added. There had been several attempts in previous Congresses to amend the 1987 Constitution, but all have failed. One factor is the public's opposition. Garbin, however, believes the public will be enlightened if the proposed amendments are fully explained. "Paano magiging against ang publiko sa RBH1 kung ito ay sumasang-ayon at inilalagay lang natin yung ipinanalo natin sa arbitral tribunal sa The Hague? Paano magiging against ang publiko kung papalawakin natin yung pagnenegosyo sa ating bansa by encouraging foreign direct investment to come in and giving Congress the flexibility to legislate those economic provisions whenever there's a need to amend the same," said Garbin. (How will the public be against RBH1 if it is agreed upon and we are just putting what we won in the arbitral tribunal in The Hague? How will the public be against it if we are trying to expand business in our country by encouraging foreign direct investment to come in and give Congress flexibility to legislate those economic provisions whenever there's a need to amend the same.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH allies pledge more defense, security support amid China aggression
The crew of the F/B John fishing vessel wave a Philippine flag as they acknowledge the presence of the Philippine Coast Guard during the Atin Ito second civilian mission to Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on Thursday, May 16, 2024. DANNY PATA Several countries, led by the United States and other key regional allies, on Friday pledged support for the Philippines' external defense as they shared concerns over China's increasingly aggressive behavior in the South China Sea. On the eve of the ninth anniversary of the arbitral tribunal's landmark decision that invalidated China's massive claim in the disputed waters, the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, India, New Zealand, Germany, France, Vietnam and the European Union declared its commitment to ensure a "rules-based and "free and open" Indo-Pacific. They also announced additional funding and agreements that will help modernize the Philippine military and coast guard, and boost the country's capacity to guard its waters in the West Philippine Sea, which is being claimed by China as its own. "A growing coalition of partners, such as the claimant states, as well as countries around the world… all share a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Together, we champion respect for the international law of the sea, including freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes," said US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, one of envoys who spoke at a forum hosted by Stratbase ADR Institute to mark the anniversary of the ruling. Carlson highlighted the importance of joint defense exercises with the Philippines and multilateral maritime cooperative activities, along with a pledge to bolster investments in Philippine infrastructure and military modernization. "We are investing in tools that empower the Philippines to protect its waters and secure its future. This strategic deterrence is rooted in unity not just between our two nations, but with like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Together, we send a clear message but coercive actions have no place in international law," she said. Carlson also renewed a US government warning that Washington will defend Manila from any armed attack under a 73-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty. "Our commitment to the Philippines is unwavering rooted in a 1951 mutual defense treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine forces, vessels or aircraft, including those of the coast guard, anywhere in the South China Sea," Carlson said. Foreign funding Australian Ambassador HK Yu, at the same forum, announced a A$3-million (P110 million) funding over the next two years for the Philippine Coast Guard, providing them with drones, training and other equipment. The drones are on top of the 20 that Australia gifted to the PCG last April. "This capability uplift is another example of Australia's ongoing commitment to provide tangible assistance to the Philippines to boost its maritime domain awareness," Yu said. She called out China for its "destabilizing conduct" in the South China Sea as well as its "excessive maritime claims." As hostilities between Philippine and Chinese forces flared in recent years in the South China Sea, Manila has adopted a strategy of publicly releasing videos and photos of Chinese harassment in the waters. The transparency initiative by the Philippines has gained international attention, prompting many countries to denounce Beijing's assertive actions. 'Worrisome' Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said she finds "worrisome" that China continues to reject "the binding" arbitral award and "persists with illegal, coercive, and aggressive actions under cover of a revisionist, self-serving interpretation and application of international law, particularly UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)." The Chinese Embassy in Manila responded by posting its foreign ministry statement dated July 12, 2016–the day the Netherlands-based court handed down its ruling–accusing the Philippine government of reneging on a "bilateral agreement" to resolve disputes bilaterally. "China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall under no circumstances be affected by the Arbitral Tribunal awards," it said, adding it "opposes and will never accept" the ruling. The Philippines under President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has sought to expand its alliances and upgrade its defense capabilities in the face of Chinese aggression in the waters. The years-long disputes also involve Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. "Canada remains deeply concerned by China's continued disregard for the ruling," Canada's ambassador David Hartman said. To preserve the legacy of the tribunal decision, he said the international community "must look beyond commemoration and instead, commit ourselves to action." VFA with Canada Hartman said Canada was looking forward to the signing of a visiting forces agreement with the Philippine so both countries can unlock the potential of "closer cooperation, operational interoperability, and readiness." "It provides the foundation for training, logistics, intelligence sharing, and more frequent, flexible military engagement," he said. Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, in his speech, expressed Japan's opposition to "unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion" in the South China Sea. Endo said he anticipates a more robust and dynamic security cooperation with Manila once the status of forces agreement between the Japan and the Philippines comes into force. "Japan will continue working in coordination with Association of South East Asian Nations and other countries concerned to maintain and strengthen the maritime order based on the rule of law and to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific," he said. Circle of friends UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils said Britain will uphold the rules-based international system by promoting its strength abroad. As a "key partner for the UK in the Indo-Pacific," Beaufils said the Philippines could expect more bilateral engagement across the air, land and maritime domains, with periodic visits by Royal Navy ships, visits and engagements by defense leaders and specialist training teams. "I'm pleased that the Philippines' circle of friends is growing," she said. "These are key to supporting peace and stability throughout the region." "Collectively, we are helping to challenge excessive Chinese maritime claims and dangerous activity that raise the risk of escalation," Beaufils said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
73% of Pinoys want to assert PH rights in WPS in June survey —Pulse Asia
The crew of the F/B John fishing vessel wave a Philippine flag as they acknowledge the presence of the Philippine Coast Guard during the Atin Ito second civilian mission to Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea in 2024. DANNY PATA Majority of Filipinos at 73% want the government to continue asserting the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to the results of the June survey of Pulse Asia. Stratbase ADR Institute president Professor Victor Andres 'Dindo' Manhit presented the results of the survey during a forum in light of the anniversary of the Philippines' 2016 arbitral win against China over the dispute in the South China Sea. Based on the results, the National Capital Region (NCR) has the most respondents who agreed that the current administration must continue its efforts in the WPS at 83%. This is followed by Balance Luzon with 82%, the Visayas with 60%, and Mindanao with 59%. Only 7% disagreed with the Philippine government's assertion in the WPS. Meanwhile, 18% said that they cannot say if they agree or disagree. The respondents were also asked about measures the Philippines should continue to implement to effectively defend the country's rights in its seas. Around 65% said the Philippine government should support the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard to acquire assets in line with ensuring territorial integrity. Fifty-one percent said the administration should reinforce alliances and elevate partnerships by conducting joint patrols and military exercises with allies, friends, and partners. For 33% of the respondents, the Philippine government should establish defense and security agreements with like-minded partners. Around 14% said the administration should hold leaders accountable and ensure commitment to defend the Philippines' national interest in its maritime territories. Meanwhile, 12% said the Philippine government should file diplomatic protests and continue to engage China diplomatically. Commissioned by Stratbase, the survey was conducted from June 26 to 30 using 1,200 Asia confirmed to GMA News Online that it conducted the survey.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10-06-2025
- General
- GMA Network
41 China warships, Coast Guard vessels spotted in WPS in May 2025
China Coast Guard vessel 3306 shadows Atin Ito ship on civilian mission to Pagasa Island in West Philippine Sea, in this photo taken on May 27, 2025. Atin Ito Coalition A total of 41 Chinese warships and China Coast Guard vessels were monitored over some features in the West Philippine Sea in May 2025, according to the Philippine Navy on Tuesday. In an update, the Philippine Navy said the following Chinese ships have been monitored in different WPS features from May 1 to 31: Bajo de Masinloc - 15 CCG vessels, 11 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships Ayungin Shoal - six CCG vessels, one PLAN ship Pagasa Island - four CCG vessels, four PLAN ships In the same period, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spotted 15,765 vessels across the archipelago. Of which, 12,608 were foreign vessels. The AFP said a total of 1,349 vessels did not respond to radio challenges. 'The majority of these incidents were recorded in Pagasa (665 vessels), Tubbataha (184 vessels), and Ayungin Shoal (125 vessels) —areas of high interest due to their proximity to other maritime zones,' the AFP said. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
South China Morning Post
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
South China Sea: Filipino activists stage ‘sea concert' to resist Beijing claims
Combining protest with performance, Filipino activists staged a 'sea concert' near the disputed Thitu Island in the South China Sea this week – a symbolic act of resistance that analysts say may not advance legal claims but could help galvanise regional solidarity and draw global attention. Advertisement The event, organised by the Atin Ito (This Is Ours) coalition, took place aboard the civilian vessel M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, which set sail from Palawan in the early hours of Tuesday carrying volunteers and artists from across Southeast Asia Hours into the journey, the ship and its two Philippine coastguard escorts were shadowed by Chinese coastguard vessels, which issued a radio challenge asserting Beijing's sovereignty over the area. A voice from one of the Chinese ships cited 'China's domestic law and international law' – including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – and claimed a 2016 arbitral ruling was 'illegal' and China 'neither accepts nor recognises' it. The Philippine coastguard stated the vessels were operating lawfully within its exclusive economic zone, referencing the country's Maritime Zones Act , UNCLOS, and a 2016 Hague tribunal decision that invalidated China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea. A female crew member was heard telling the Chinese vessels they had 'no legal authority to patrol' the area and should 'depart immediately.' While no incident ensued, the ship's captain, Jorge dela Cruz said the shadowing was 'alarming,' considering the vessel was just 40 nautical miles from the Philippine mainland. Advertisement
