MANILA – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to pursue all available legal and diplomatic measures to hold China accountable following the reported assault of a Philippine Navy officer by members of the China Coast Guard during a resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal.

In a statement, Pangilinan urged the DFA to immediately file a strong diplomatic protest and raise the incident before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Philippines’ allied countries.

“Nananawagan tayo sa Department of Foreign Affairs na agad magsumite ng isang matibay na diplomatic protest. Ipabatid ang insidenteng ito sa ASEAN at sa iba pang mga bansang kaalyado natin,” he said.

“At gamitin ang lahat ng ligal at diplomatikong paraan, kabilang ang malinaw na 2016 Arbitral Award. Lahat ng ito upang papanagutin ang China, palakasin ang suporta ng pandaigdigang komunidad, at ipagtanggol ang karapatan ng Pilipinas, ang kaligtasan ng ating mamamayan, at ang kapayapaan sa West Philippine Sea,” he added.

Pangilinan emphasized that the Philippines has the right to conduct lawful and peaceful activities within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under international law, including the 2016 Arbitral Award issued under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He noted that the ruling, issued a decade ago, invalidated the legal basis of China’s nine-dash line claim, which covers most of the West Philippine Sea, including the EEZs of several Southeast Asian nations.

“Nasa bakuran na namin kayo, kayo pa ang may ganang manakit. Ang ganitong pananakit at paggamit ng dahas laban sa aming mga tauhan ay labag sa basic GMRC at sa obligasyon ng mga estado sa ilalim ng international law na umiwas sa banta at paggamit ng puwersa,” the senator said.

“Nagsalita na ang international tribunal: Isang low-tide elevation sa loob ng EEZ at continental shelf ng Pilipinas ang Ayungin Shoal, at wala kayong anumang “historic rights” o sovereign rights na puwedeng mang-override sa karapatan ng Pilipinas sa mga lugar na ito,” Pangilinan stressed.

He also called on China to stop its actions in the West Philippine Sea and comply with international law and the 2016 arbitral ruling, which he said has been backed by more than 40 countries.

On Monday, a Philippine Navy personnel was injured after reportedly being assaulted by members of the China Coast Guard during a confrontation at Ayungin Shoal, an area within the Philippines’ EEZ and continental shelf.

The DFA, Department of National Defense (DND), and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) have condemned the incident.