REFUTING the claim of China, Senator Francis Tolentino in a hearing on Monday said China is concocting stories as he denied China’s government accusations that the Philippines is guilty of destroying Recto Bank .

Tolentino, chair of he Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones, said the Philippines abides by the Law of the Seas and it is China who has been consistent in destroying the natural habitat of fishes at the Southern part of Recto Bank which is 237 km northwest of Palawan province.

Tolentino has lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for ensuring stability in the region in connection with the quadrilateral naval drills in the West Philippine Sea between the Philippines, Japan, Australia and the United States.

“Sila ang naninira. They have destroyed many things in WPS at kailan naman kaya sila naging environment friendly?” Tolentino said as he divulged that Filipino scientists found discoloration in the area which is proof that natural resources has been destroyed.

Tolentino’s reaction came after China accused the Philippines of destroying the natural resources in Rozul Reef and claimed that the Philippines is creating more trouble in the area.

However, Tolentino stressed that it was actually the other way around since Rozul Reef is within the Philippine Economic Zone.

China claims the vast South China Sea including the West Philippine Sea which is well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected Beijing’s historical claims in the West Philippine Sea and favored Manila’s sovereign rights in the area.

China has consistently claimed a vast swathe of the South China Sea through the controversial “nine-dash line,” which it expanded by adding another dash, including areas close to the Philippines’ coastline.

The Philippines won a legal case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague, but China rejected the ruling.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Camille P. Balagtas