Phl should do more than file protests vs China - BBM

The Philippines should go beyond filing diplomatic protests against China, President Marcos said yesterday, as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disclosed sending a note verbale to Beijing over the latest incident in Ayungin Shoal where the Chinese coast guard forcibly stopped a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.

- Alexis Romero, Ghio Ong

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the National Employment Summit in Manila, Marcos noted that the Philippines had already filed so many protests against China's actions.

"We have over a hundred protests already. We have already made a similar number of demarche. So we have to do more than just that," the President said.

He did not specify what doing more might entail.

Asked if he had summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to discuss the latest incident in the Ayungin Shoal, Marcos replied: "We have called him many, many times. Well, the DFA will have to decide to formalize that discussion with the ambassador, but we are actually constantly in touch with him.