MANILA, Philippines- Binatikos ni PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela ang sinabi ni Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta sa isang pagdinig ng House tri-committee sa mga usapin tungkol sa western section ng exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng bansa.
“There is nothing [sic] as West Philippine Sea,” sabi ni Marcoleta sa hearing sa pagsisiyasat sa online misinformation. “This is a creation by us.”
Bilang tugon, sinagot ni Tarriela sa X o dating Twitter ang pahayag: “Hearing someone claim that the ‘West Philippine Sea’ is merely a fabrication of the Philippine government is a disservice and an embarrassment to their entire party, the organization they belong to, and even their own family.”
“How can one face the younger generations today and tell them that our Exclusive Economic Zone to the west of our archipelago is nonexistent, effectively giving up the fight to assert their rights as Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea?”
Sa naturang pagdinig, sinabi rin ni Marcoleta na walang West Philippine Sea sa mapa ng Pilipinas.
“The complications of the West Philippine Sea have not been explained to our people,” wika pa ni Marcoleta.
Noong 2012, nilagdaan ni dating Pangulong Benigno Aquino ang isang administrative order na pinapalitan ang pangalan ng katubigan sa South China Sea sa loob ng kanlurang bahagi ng EEZ ng bansa bilang West Philippine Sea. Jocelyn Tabangcura-Domenden