LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

• House Resolution No. 143: Resolution Expressing Grave Concern Over The Evolving Events In Myanmar and Urging The Department Of Foreign Affairs To Express The Solidarity Of The Filipino People With The Cause of Aung San Suu Kyi And Call For The Suspension Of Myanmar From The Association Of Southeast Asian Nations - introduced by Congressman J. Apolinario L. Lozada Jr., 6 August 1998
• House Resolution No. 944: Resolution Condemning The Continued Chinese Intrusions Into The Country's Exclusive Economic Zone, Commending The Philippine Navy And The Rest Of The Armed Forces Of The Philippines For Gallantly Protecting Our Territorial Integrity In Connection With The Latest Incident At The Scarborough Shoal And Fully Supporting President Joseph Ejercito Estrada On The Spratlys Issue - introduced by Congressman Roilo Golez, 26 May 1999.

    WHEREAS, recent reports indicate a disturbing trend in Myanmar;

    WHEREAS, on 24 July 1998, while driving towards the township of Pathein, Aung San Suu Kyi was forcibly stopped at a bridge near Rangoon and prevented from proceeding to meet supporters and friends by security personnel acting on behalf of Myanmar’s ruling military junta;

    WHEREAS, from 24 to 29 July 1998, Suu Kyi was forced and coerced to remain in her car and in the process placed her well being at great and unnecessary risks.

    WHEREAS, it is recalled that sometime in May 1990 Suu Kyi’s National League of Democracy won convincingly in the parliamentary elections the results of which have, until now, been stubbornly ignored by the ruling military junta, thus frustrating the popular will of the Myanmar people;

    WHEREAS, the 8th of August will mark the 10th anniversary of the violent crackdown of pro-democracy rally in Myanmar;

    WHEREAS, the current leaders of Myanmar, by their acts and omissions, continue to show their unworthiness to be stewards of their country’s democracy and membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN);

    WHEREAS, there is a felt need to express the solidarity of the Filipino people with the cause of Aung San Suu Kyi for genuine democracy and freedom in Myanmar; Now, therefore be it

    RESOLVED, as it hereby resolved, That the House of Representative express its grave concern over the evolving events in Mynamar and urge the Executive  Branch through the Department of Foreign Affairs (1) to convey to Aung Suu Kyi the solidarity of the Filipino people with her cause for genuine democracy and freedom in Myanmar, and (2) call for the immediate suspension of Myanmar’s membership in ASEAN until Myanmar’s leaders honor its commitments to the ASEAN and to the world to restore real freedom and democracy in that nation by honoring the results of the May 1990 General elections.

            ADOPTED,
 

    WHEREAS, a Chinese fishing boat encroached the 200-mile Philippine economic exclusive zone in the Scarborough Shoal;

    WHEREAS, in the performance of their duty, the officers and men of Philippine Navy’s BRP Rizal which was then conducting routine sovereignty and maritime patrol in the area accosted said Chinese fishing boat on 24 May 1999;

    WHEREAS, due to rough sea conditions, the Chinese fishing boat and the BRP Rizal collided with each other resulting in the sinking of the Chinese fishing boat within the Scarborough Shoal;

    WHEREAS, the officers and crew of the Philippine Navy’s BRP Rizal immediately rescued the Chinese fishermen after the accidental sinking, all of whom have been saved, accounted for and turned over by the Philippine Government to the representative of the People’s Republic of China (PROC);

    WHEREAS, it appears that the Chinese fishing boat violated the territorial integrity of the Philippines thereby aggravating the territorial dispute between the Philippines and PROC in the South China Sea;

    WHEREAS, it is apparent that the presence of the Chinese fishing boat in the Scarborough Shoal is part of the ploy and strategy of the PROC to maintain and gradually increase their presence therein like what they did in Mischief Reef which ended up in the construction of concrete, high rise buildings, something the PROC undoubtedly dreams of doing in Scarborough Shoal;

    WHEREAS, it is important that the Philippine Government recognize this design early enough to thwart the PROC’s obvious attempt to repeat what happened in the Mischief Reef which had become fait accompli;

    NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved by the House of Representatives to condemn the continued Chinese intrusions into the country’s exclusive economic zone, commend the Philippine Navy and the rest of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for gallantly protecting our territorial integrity in connection with the latest incident at Scarborough Shoal and fully support the firm stand of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada on the Spratlys issue.

            Adopted,