MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday called on Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana not to “downplay” the possible threat of China’s coast guard law to Filipino fishermen, saying Beijing could “interpret and implement its law the way it pleases.”
“Dapat tayo ang unang tagapagtanggol ng mga mangingisda natin [We should be the first to defend our fishermen], because China will not protect them,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“We don’t have the luxury of downplaying any external threat, especially one coming from a country that has, time and again, pillaged our seas and our people,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
Hontiveros issued the call afterLorenzana as…
Keep on reading: Don’t ‘downplay’ threat of China coast guard law, Hontiveros tells Lorenzana