Drilon, Pangilinan oppose Philippines’ joint probe with China on Recto Bank incident

June 23, 2019

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Sunday said a joint probe with China into the Recto Bank incident could weaken the Philippine’s maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Drilon made the remarks as Malacanang announced on Saturday President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the offer of the Chinese Government to conduct a joint investigation.

“I am opposed to a joint investigation with China. We should not allow it. The law is on our side. There are clear violations of international treaties and our local laws committed by the Chinese vessel. A joint investigation will only serve their interest, not ours,” Drilon said.

“A joint investigation  would derogate our jurisdiction and prejudice our claim in the WPS,” Drilon stressed.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, like Drilon a member of the opposition, added: ''A joint investigation is against our fisheries code.''

''Our fisheries code mandates the government to safeguard the safety of our fishery and aquatic resources and to prosecute local and foreign violators. Part also of the government's mandate is to address foreign illegal entrants in our waters,'' he said.

''Lives of 22 of our fishermen have been threatened as they were left clinging to debris, hundreds of thousands of their earnings lost, in what our leaders have been calling just a 'little maritime incident','' said Pangilinan. 

Drilon recalled that in 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration agreed with the country's claim China has unlawfully interfered with the enjoyment and exercise of the sovereign rights of the Philippines with respect to the resources of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). DMS