Rody: Can’t stop China from fishing in EEZ
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2019 08:55:14 +0000
President Duterte has said that he has no way of stopping China from fishing in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone because of an agreement allowing Filipino fishermen to fish in the disputed waters.
Duterte has been asked by senators and critics to make a stand and fight for the country’s sovereignty following the sinking of a Filipino boat and abandonment of its 22-man crew by a Chinese vessel at the Recto Bank early this month.
In a speech in Malacañang, Duterte said the government cannot simply drive the Chinese out of the Recto Bank because they are insisting that they own the area even if the Hague Ruling dictates that it is part of the Philippines’ EEZ.
“We cannot drive them away because they have insisted na kanila. Tayo, dinimenda natin ang China, panahon ni Aquino, which was right. Nanalo tayo, sabi ng Arbitral Court, sa Pilipinas ‘yan. Hindi binigay sa atin ang sovereignty,” he said.
“Ang sovereignty is only 12 miles. Ang economic zone, wala tayong sovereignty. No country in the world has a sovereignty sa kanyang economic zone. It is not a question of sovereignty. Ang recognized lang ang 12,” he added.
Duterte castigated Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio for supposedly urging him to look for trouble, calling the magistrate stupid. “Alam mo Justice Carpio napaka-istupido mo. That is why hanggang diyan ka lang talaga. He’s from Davao. Basta doon pa hindi ako bilib diyan, buang na ‘yan. Walang ka-rhyme or reason,” he said.
The President explained that China is allowed to fish in the country’s EEZ because of an agreement with China enabling Filipino fishermen to fish there. (Argyll Geducos)