MANILA, Philippines — Saying the China Coast Guard (CCG) has “gone too far,” Sen. Robinhood Padilla on Tuesday urged the Philippine government to take “stronger and concrete steps” to protect Filipino troops and defend the country’s maritime rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.
“When a Filipino is harmed, the Philippines cannot remain silent. When our soldiers are attacked while performing their legitimate duties, we must take a stand,” Padilla said in Filipino.
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Padilla also said those responsible for harming Filipino soldiers must be held accountable, adding that repeated protests are not enough if such incidents continue.
The senator was reacting to Monday’s confrontation near BRP Sierra Madre, during which CCG personnel struck a Philippine Navy serviceman on the head with a wooden baton, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The incident occurred after a CCG rigid-hull inflatable boat carrying eight personnel approached the Philippine Navy vessel and refused repeated instructions to leave the area, the AFP said.
Padilla described the assault as a “clear escalation of aggression” against Filipino troops performing their lawful duties within the country’s maritime jurisdiction.
“How long will we endure this?” he asked.
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“We have repeatedly chosen restraint. We have repeatedly avoided confrontation. But it seems our restraint is being met with even more harassment and violence,” he added.
While stressing that he does not support going to war, Padilla said the Philippines’ pursuit of peace should not be abused or interpreted as a sign of weakness.
Padilla also praised Philippine troops for remaining disciplined despite what he described as “intense provocation,” noting that they used only shields to protect themselves despite being outnumbered and unarmed.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of National Defense, and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea have also condemned the incident, which took place within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. /mcm
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