Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the Philippine government to “pressure” China to pay more than ₱800 billion in marine losses in the West Philippine Sea, calling it a debt due to ecological damage it has incurred in the disputed territory.
“Lolobo lang yang utang ng Tsina sa Pilipinas kung hindi pa rin siya mag-uumpisang magbayad ng utang niya sa Pilipinas,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
The senator also stressed how this amount can be used to assist Filipinos affected by the pandemic.
Our health care workers have been demanding timely hazard pay; our teachers need financial support with the resources for online learning; farmers and fisherfolk themselves are going hungry, and 4.5 million jobless Filipinos are looking for aid to tide them over,” she added.
Hontiveros stressed that the government should to not allow Beijing to get away with the damaged caused by their country. “Ang gusto natin ay compensation, hindi konsumisyon,” she said.
Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs filed two diplomatic protests over the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
