MALACAÑAN, Philippines – Binatikos ng Malacañang ang pahayag ni Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio na posibleng maubos ang isda sa West Philippine Sea dahil sa pagpayag ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte  na makapangisda ang China sa lugar.

Matatandaang ang pangulo ang nagsasabing bagaman pagmamay-ari natin ang West Philippine Sea, hindi naman tayo ang may control sa property.

“China also claims the property and he is in possession ‘yan ang problema. Sila ‘yung in possession and claiming all the resources there as an owner. We are claiming the same but we are not in the position because of that fiasco noong dalawang nag-standoff doon during the time of my predecessor si Albert, ambassador. If I’m correct. When xi says, “I will fish,” who can prevent him? And sabi ko naman, “we will fish because we claim it. And sabi ko, “please allow because..” before that, they were driving away our fishermen. ‘Di ba inaabog nila? Kaya sabi ko, “do not drive them away because the Filipinos are of the belief that they are also they claim it.” Ani Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Samantala, ipinaliwanag naman ni Pangulong Duterte kung ano ang “Due Time” na tinutukoy nito na pagbabawalan ang ibang mangisda sa ating Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), partikular na ang China.

“So we are a claimant, they are a claimant, so we’ll have to say, look, do not forget me.” And I would insist that as the owner, though conflicting with your stand, we also have must have a share of the resources. Second is huwag muna ngayon. That’s the first. The second is when I said when I during my term. Last ko na lang ‘yan. But maybe on the second or the first term of my last year, god willing, if i’m still alive.” ani Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

(Rosalie Coz | Untv News)

Tags: exclusive economic zone, Malacanñang, West Philippine Sea