00:00Being a member of the armed forces we are voicing out the term our rights and our future and we just
00:18stick to what is being dictated in the our what is legally ours and what is stated in our loser
00:28This was stated by Philippine Navy Captain Jess Pilara as the representative of the 35 newly promoted officers of the armed forces of the Philippines when they faced the commission on appointments on Wednesday
00:42But here, Senator Rodante Marcoleta again discussed the proper scope of the West Philippine Sea
00:49He said that some of the occupied features in the Kalayaan Island Group are outside the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone or EEZ of the Philippines
00:59Such as Pag-asa Island, the only one with a civilian population in the West Philippine Sea
01:06Ito po yung pag-asa, yung parola, yung kota, at yung lankyam
01:11Captain, alam po ninyo yan
01:13Incidentally, Mr. Chairman, itong apat na features na occupied ng ating bansa
01:21They are way, way beyond our EEC
01:24Ano ba talaga ipagpapatayan natin dito?
01:27We will offer our lives, including the lives of our children, and to die for it
01:33For something that is not even within our EEZ
01:36That is why Mark Coleta suggested
01:39Ang gawin natin po para madali, i-give up natin yung KIG
01:42Then, mako-coordinate na natin lahat
01:45Mr. Chair, kaya po yun ang dahilan
01:48Hindi po tayo makagawa ng mapa para sana ma-submit na natin
01:52And in our lifetime, we will be able to see
01:56Doon sa entire stretch ng South China Sea, lalabas doon ang West Philippine Sea
02:01Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lakson also gave a response based on history
02:07Yung Spratlys Island, di ba si Tomas Klomo yung naka-discover nito?
02:13Tapos in-occupy niya
02:13And this was formalized by the former president, the late President Marco Sr.
02:19By way of a presidential decree
02:22Titinoan-over na ni Tomas Klomo yung ownership sa Philippine government
02:27Although, nag-go-govern pa rin yung international law, di ba?
02:31Maritime law expert, Atty. J. Batong Bakal also gave further explanation
02:36Saying that Mark Coleta's statement is unacceptable
02:40We are not claiming the Clan Island group on the basis of it being inside the EEZ
02:49These are territorial claims, they are claims to land territory that are governed by customary international law
02:57And the basis of the Philippines' rights over them is pure and simple
03:03The fact that we have been exercising sovereignty over these areas
03:08The senator is again also manifesting his lack of knowledge and understanding of the important legal nuances in these claims
03:20Professor Batong Bakal added
03:23The Philippines' rights should be strengthened
03:25Instead of making statements
03:27Such as surrendering a portion of the West Philippine Sea
03:32After all, the disputes are still ongoing
03:34What that is doing is directly undermining the position of the Philippines
03:40And strengthening and reinforcing the position of the other side
03:44We'll be exposing them to the potential malign activities
03:51Of other countries that would probably seek to gain more
03:56We would be giving up an important vantage point to establish the security of our western coast
04:07The LGU of Kalayaan, Palawan said in a text message to PTV News
04:12That it was offended and insulted by the remark of Senator Mark Coleta
04:17However, the vice mayor said there are no plans to declare Mark Coleta persona ng grata
04:24Noting that he is an elected official
04:27Patrick De Jesus from the National TV Network for a New and Better Philippines
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