By Mario Casayuran

Detained opposition Senator Leila de Lima urged Friday President Duterte to wake up to reality by defending the rights of Filipinos that are being violated by foreigners.

De Lima issued the statement after deploring the abandonment by a Chinese vessel of 22 Filipino fishermen after it collided with the Filipino-owned vessel at the Reed (Recto) Bank at the contested West Philippine Sea (WPS) last Sunday.

‘’I join our community of patriotic Filipinos in condemning their acts and calling for justice,’’ she said.

De Lima said the ‘’hit-and-run’’ tactics of the Chinese vessel showed their bad faith as Chinese vessels continue to encroach into the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

She said she agrees with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the movement of the Chinese vessel in maintaining its course without slowing down in spite of the collision indicates that, at the very least, the abandonment is intentional.

‘’It is possible, even probable, that the Chinese vessel was engaged in some unlawful activities, such as smuggling or poaching, during the incident, which could have influenced their decision to abandon our fishermen,’’ she pointed out.

‘’Rather than coming to the rescue of our countrymen, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. jumped to the defense of the Chinese by contradicting claims of intentionality on the part of the Chinese by Secretary Lorenzana and various other experts on naval and maritime relation.,’’ she said.

‘’President Duterte himself met this issue with his trademark deafening silence in the face of Chinese aggression and misconduct. These are not the reactions that we need and deserve from our President and top diplomat. This sends an unfortunate message to the world that we tolerate injustice from China against our own people,’’ she pointed out.

Apologists of China would argue that this is a matter between non-State actors and that it would be sufficient that the Chinese government merely sanction the operators of the Chinese vessel. It is not enough. A clear injustice has been done and the Chinese fishermen committed a crime against our countrymen. We should demand that they be brought here for prosecution. We should hold the Chinese government responsible for the actions of their vessels operating within our EEZ,’’ she added.

De Lima said the Philippines should insist on our internationally recognized rights and its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbors and the rest of the world in demanding compliance from China.