CCG personnel destroy equipment of the AFP’s rigid hull inflatable boat, and point weapons at Filipino troops during the June 17, 2024 resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. Photo courtesy Armed Forces of the Philippines

Victoria Tulad

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

RG Cruz

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1718887379253171885640361720240619-ccg-destroys-afp-boats-HO-4.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="CCG personnel destroy equipment of the AFP’s rigid hull inflatable boat, and point weapons at Filipino troops during the June 17, 2024 resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. Photo courtesy Armed Forces of the Philippines"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">CCG personnel destroy equipment of the AFP’s rigid hull inflatable boat, and point weapons at Filipino troops during the June 17, 2024 resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. <em id="isPasted">Photo courtesy Armed Forces of the Philippines</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Tolentino recommends the convening of the National Security Council (NSC) to better advise the President on how to respond to China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).</p><p>“Kailangan na ito kasi involved na ‘yung peace and security ng ating bansa (This is needed because peace and security in our country are involved) and to have the National Security Council be convened would show that we are really in a heightened level not just of awareness but of a possible national response,” Tolentino said in an interview.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zIobrR_0giE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The NSC, according to its website, is the “principal advisory body on the proper coordination and integration of plans and policies affecting national security.”</p><p>It is chaired by the President and includes as members Cabinet officials, Congress, other government officials and private citizens invited by the President.  </p><p>Tolentino said even past Presidents can be invited to the NSC briefing.</p><p>“Isasantabi natin ang mga political considerations siguro. Ang mananaig dito, ang mangingibabaw dito ‘yung dapat maging appropriate response at ‘yung pangangailangan ng bansa,” he said.</p><p>(Let us put aside political considerations. What will take precedence is the appropriate response that our country needs.)</p><p>Asked if the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States should already be invoked, Tolentino said it will still have to be studied.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MPTwdXKE5yM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The MDT requires Manila and Washington to help each other in case of external threat.</p><p>“It boils down to the definition of armed attack…’Yung definition siguro (The definition of) armed attack pursuant to that mutual defense treaty would have to be studied first. At siguro ito yung dapat iaral ng National Security Council (And maybe this is what the National Security Council should study),” Tolentino explained.</p><p>The Philippines will relay to the United States its findings and the US will have to determine if this will truly trigger the MDT.</p><div><strong>SENATE SEEKS FULL DFA BRIEFING ON CHINA HOSTILITIES</strong></div><p>Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday said the Senate wants a full briefing from the Department of Foreign Affairs on the &quot;alarming&quot; confrontation with the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea where a Filipino sailor lost a thumb.</p><p>&quot;The escalation of tensions in the West Philippine Sea is alarming, and the Senate will be seeking a full briefing from the DFA on the latest incident, as well as the efforts being undertaken to address this,&quot; Escudero said in a statement.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/19/knives-looting-severed-thumb-philippines-details-fresh-confrontation-with-china-1613">Knives, looting, severed thumb: Philippines details fresh confrontation with China in Ayungin</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/19/how-ph-navy-officer-lost-a-finger-during-china-ramming-incident-in-ayungin-1809#:~:text=Seaman%20First%20Class%20Jeffrey%20Facundo%20of%20the%20Philippine%20Navy%20lost,resupply%20mission%20in%20Ayungin%20shoal.">How PH Navy officer lost a finger during China ramming incident</a></div><p>The Senate chief urged the DFA to go beyond the filing of diplomatic protests each time an incident occurs and explore every means to conduct a meaningful dialogue with their counterparts from Beijing to avoid further escalation. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/20/what-could-philippines-do-after-fresh-confrontation-with-china-809">Philippines-China confrontation: What’s next?</a></div><p>&quot;As our diplomats work to advance our interests, I urge our Armed Forces to explore alternative methods to deliver provisions to the Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal so that our troops are properly resupplied while minimizing the risks and achieving our desired objectives,&quot; Escudero said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/19/afp-releases-photos-of-china-coast-guard-s-barbaric-actions-in-ayungin-2137">AFP releases photos of China Coast Guard&#x27;s &#x27;barbaric actions&#x27; in Ayungin</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Sen. Joel Villanueva said China has gone too far.</p><p>&quot;China, sumosobra na! Sobrang kabastusan na po ang sunud-sunod na mga pambubully ng China sa ating mga kababayan sa sarili nating teritoryo. Hindi na rin po uubra ang paawa epek at pa-victim nila dahil kitang-kita naman po kung gaano sila walang respeto sa loob ng ating sariling teritoryo. Klaro naman po na ang Ayungin Shoal ay atin,&quot; Villanueva said.</p><p>&quot;Sa pagbisita po natin sa Pag-asa Island noong Mayo, nakita po natin ang mala-higanteng mga barko at mas advance na teknolohiyang ginagamit ng China Coast Guard na panakot sa ating Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Nakakabahala rin po na bukod sa kanilang kagamitan ay mas nagiging agresibo na po sila sa pag-atake,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/19/us-to-stand-by-philippines-amid-china-s-provocative-actions-pentagon-951">US to stand by Philippines amid China&#x27;s &#x27;provocative&#x27; actions — Pentago</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YOz1JavBXtg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Villanueva backed the official submission to the United Nations regarding the Philippines&#x27; entitlement to an extended continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>&quot;This proactive step not only solidifies our historical claim over the Kalayaan Island Group, but also affirms our commitment to adhere to the rule of law at all times, rejecting any form of bullying, intimidation or false narratives,&quot; Villanueva said.</p><p>&quot;For this, we extend our gratitude to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the National Mapping and Resource Information Agency (NAMRIA) for their leadership in this action. This and all other incidents provide an opportunity for Filipinos to unite and assert our rights in the West Philippine Sea more strongly than ever,&quot; he said. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/6/19/china-s-salami-slicing-strategy-against-philippines-in-disputed-sea-1515">China&#x27;s &#x27;salami-slicing strategy&#x27; against Philippines in disputed sea</a></div><p>Sen. Loren Legarda urged constructive dialogue with China after the latest incident in Ayungin Shoal.</p><p>&quot;Ayungin is clearly within our exclusive economic zone and so the humanitarian mission the resupply mission.... is part of our duty to sustain our people who are sacrificing by working there and guarding the BRP Sierra Madre. And so any damage, any violation in that area, which is our EEZ must be dealt with, how? By constructive dialogue but at the same time they must respect our sovereignty,&quot; she said.</p><div><strong>MAKABAYAN SOLONS CALL FOR PROBE VS CHINA AGGRESSION</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives are calling for an investigation into the recent incident of China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea, which injured Philippine Navy sailors.</p><p>They want China to be held accountable for these injuries.</p><p>“‘Yung doon sa diplomat, dapat ipatawag na ‘yan, kasi ang tagal-tagal na talaga na may ginagawa ang China, tapos umabot na sa punto na ito, na mayroon tayong kababayang nasaktan. Dapat consistent tayo, kapag mayroong mga bansa na gumawa ng mali sa atin, dapat talaga hindi tayo magpapaka-chummy chummy lang dito na para bang walang nangyayari,” Kabataan Party List Representative Raoul Manuel said.</p><p>“Dapat dalhin natin sa international bodies at i-ulat natin at dapat magkaroon ng mga kongkretong mekanismo para mapanagot ang Tsina sa kanilang ginagawa,” he added.</p><p>“Totoong nakakagalit at kinukundina natin itong pananakit… Dapat iakyat natin talaga ito… sa mas mataas like United Nations, UNCLOS para makita rin,” ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro, for her part, said.</p><p>“Kailangan natin ukilkilin, tanungin kung ano ang naganap dito. Even the Philippine military, the US military, and the Chinese Ambassador. Mainam na magkaroon talaga ng imbestigasyon kaugnay rito,” Gabriela Party List Representative Arlene Brosas noted.</p><p>Philippine authorities have yet to disclose the details of the June 17 incident but sources said at least eight Philippine Navy sailors were injured—one of whom reportedly lost a finger—after Chinese vessels intercepted a resupply run to the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>The Chinese Foreign Ministry defended the actions of the China Coast Guard, saying the incident stemmed from the Philippines’ alleged “illegal” resupply mission and deliberate intrusion into the waters claimed by China.</p><p>Beijing’s expansive claims have been invalidated by Manila’s 2016 arbitral victory.</p><p>“Dapat pagalitan ng ating administration itong embassy, dahil nga doon sa through their teeth ‘yung pagsisinungaling ng China kaugnay dito sa encounter with the Philippines,” Castro said.</p><p>She also issued this call to Malacañang.</p><p>“Nakakalungkot talaga na ang ating head of the state, ang ating president ay walang mabilis na response dito, lalo-lalong na at talagang malala na ito. Ito ‘yung pinakamalala na encounter between the Philippines and China here in the West Philippine Sea… Hindi sapat ‘yung sinasabing pagkundena ng AFP, pagkundena na ng DFA, sa nangyaring ito… As architect of foreign policy, as President, dapat may sabihin siya. May nasaktan eh. Ano pa ba gusto niya? Antayin niya may mamatay, doon pa lang ba siya magsasalita?” Castro added.</p>

<p>Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Tolentino recommends the convening of the National Security Council (NSC) to better advise the President on how to respond with China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).</p>

Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Tolentino recommends the convening of the National Security Council (NSC) to better advise the President on how to respond with China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

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Gov't urged to convene National Security Council to address China aggression

Victoria Tulad,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News,

RG Cruz

Published Jun 20, 2024 08:46 PM PHT

Read More:

China

West Philippine Sea

Senate

House of Representatives

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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