ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | May 11, 2021
Hindi sakop ng exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas ang Julian Felipe Reef, ayon sa Malacañang ngayong Martes.
Pahayag ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, “Bagama't ‘yung Julian Felipe po ay meron tayong claim, sa katunayan, ni minsan, hindi natin na-possess ‘yan. Napakalayo po niyan du’n sa mga islang ating na-possess at ang talagang nag-aagawan ng teritoryo ng Julian Felipe ay ang mga bansang Vietnam at China.”
Saad pa ni Roque, “All we’re saying is we’re never in possession of that area. We’re making a big thing out of the fact that the area naman, in the first place, was never under our possession. Pinalalaki po. Pinalalaki ang issue.
“Ang issue po talaga riyan is unang-una, fishing… Kasi hindi po talaga 'yan kabahagi ng ating EEZ, ‘yung Julian Felipe. Labas po ‘yan, ganyan po kalayo ‘yan.”
Gayunpaman, ayon kay Roque ay may claim pa rin ang Pilipinas sa Julian Felipe Reef na nasa approximately 175 nautical miles west ng Bataraza, Palawan.
Saad pa ni Roque, “It doesn’t weaken anything kasi hindi naman natin gini-give-up iyong claim natin to Julian Felipe pursuant to Marcos appending Julian Felipe into the territory of the Philippines. That is our evidence of effective occupation.”