Alejano: PH lost control of Sandy Cay under Duterte’s watch

The Philippines “effectively” lost its control over Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano said.

Alejano’s remark came after Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday, May 28, dared critics to provide evidence that the country lost part of its territory to China during Duterte’s term.

In a statement on Tuesday, May 29, the lawmaker said since August 2017, Chinese coast guard vessels and militia fishing boats are positioned near Sandy Cay 24 hours a day, “effectively seizing physical control of Sandy Cay.”

“Every time Philippine government vessels patrol Sandy Cay, they are driven away by Chinese coast guard vessels,” Alejano said.

“This could be likened to the situation in Scarborough Shoal in 2012 wherein our fishermen and military forces are prevented from approaching. Since then, China controlled the shoal,” he added.

Sandy Cay, which is part of the Pag-Asa Island network of sand bars and reefs, is considered as a traditional rest and recreation area of inhabitants and visitors of the island.

Citing the Philippine Baselines Law or Republic Act (RA) No. 9522, Alejano said Pag-Asa Island “is part of the Philippine territory consistent to Article 121 of the UN [United Nations] Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Alejano slammed Cayetano over his decision not to file a protest against Beijing’s seizure of Sandy Cay.

“This is an undeniable proof that Philippines lost effective control on an island during the incumbency of President Duterte and Secretary Cayetano,” he said.

“Worse, Secretary Cayetano has intentionally refused to protest this loss of Philippine territory to China,” he continued.

The Magdalo lawmaker urged the government not to wait for China to physically occupy the territories of the Philippines in the WPS before taking an action.

“The Philippines is slowly losing effective control of our territory as China restricts the passage of our fishermen and challenges our military forces. Ang pagiging pabaya natin ngayon ay hinahayaan ang China na makontrol ang kabuuan ng (We are being neglectful because we let China to control the whole) West Philippine Sea,” he stressed.

“Huwag nating pagsinungalingan ang taumbayan at paniwalaing maayos ang sitwasyon sa West Philippine Sea dahil kabaligtaran ang nangyayari sa ibaba (We should not lie to the public and make them believe that the situation in the West Philippine Sea is good when it is actually opposite to what is really happening there),” he continued.

On Monday, the country’s top diplomat vowed to quit his post if the administration’s critics could point out which part of the WPS had been “lost” to China during Duterte’s incumbency.

“I challenge anyone of them, ano man ang profession nila (whatever their profession is) — justice sila (whether they are justices), pulitiko sila (politicians), newsman, journalist — if we lost a single island during Duterte’s time, I will pack my bags, go home, and I will not serve the public in any elected or appointed position,” Cayetano said.

Alejano, on the same day, then urged Cayetano to step down from his post for his “inaction against Chinese incursions and illegal actions” in the WPS.

“Maka-ilang ulit nang nilalabag ng China ang ating karapatan sa ating mga teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea ngunit ni isang diplomatic protest ay wala tayong narinig mula sa DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni (China has violated the Philippines’ rights to its territories in the West Philippine Sea for several times but we did not hear any diplomatic protest from the DFA under the leadership of) Secretary Cayetano,” the lawmaker said.

“Kung hindi rin lang interes ng Pilipinas ang dala ni Secretary Cayetano, mas mabuting magbitiw na lamang siya sa pwesto kaysa hinahayaang sakupin tayo ng China (If Secretary Cayetano does not defend the Philippines’ interest, it is better for him to resign from his post instead of letting China conquer us),” he continued.