Spratly's war

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said that the Philippines should tighten its security in islands being claimed by the country in the disputed Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea.

Santiago issued the statement that echoed the reaction made by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) over Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian visit to an island being claimed by Taiwan.

“Hindi maganda iyon dahil nagtatawag pansin s’ya...dito sa away ng mga bansa tungkol sa Spratly island. Ano kaya ang pakiramdaman naman nila kung ipadala naman natin 'yung presidente natin doon at magtuturo s'ya doon sa Spratly," said the Senate's foreign relations committee chief.

(It’s not good because he’s calling more attention to the dispute of several countries over Spratly island. How would Taiwan feel if we send our president to the island?)

Aside from heightened security, Santiago said it is about time that a law be passed to include the Spratlys inside the Philippine archipelagic lines.

"Ang Spratly at Kalayaan Islands ay napakalapit ‘yan sa ating archipelagic beltlines kaya napakatibay din ang ating kausa na sabihin na tayong may-ari n’yan at ang langis sa ilalim n’yan," she said.

(The Spratly and Kalayaan islands are located nearest to our archipelagic beltlines. That is why we have a strong cause to say that we own the island and the oil beneath them.)

Philippine News