Senators blast latest harassment in WPS

Senators have condemned the latest acts of harassment in the West Philippine Sea by the Chinese, particularly their attempt to stop the evacuation of a sick sailor from the BRP Sierra Madre to a hospital and their disruption of a research activity by UP marine scientists in Escoda Shoal.

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

The two incidents "would show the horizontal escalation of China's tactics," Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino said yesterday.

The disruption of the medical mission was a "clear violation of existing international humanitarian laws" while the Escoda Shoal incident "shows their attempt to cover up the environmental damage in the shoal area," Tolentino said.

The senator urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to file a case before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to seek damages for China's environmental depredation in Escoda Shoal.