Amid its efforts to assert its rights over its territory in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines must do the same for Sabah, Senator Robin Padilla stressed.
Padilla, in his interpellation of the bill on the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act, said Sabah has many natural resources that can be used by Filipinos, especially those in Muslim Mindanao.
“Malaking lupa ito. Ito ay may langis, may minerals (at) talagang dapat nakikinabang ang Pilipino sa Sabah.”
“Ganoon din nating ipaglaban ang ating karapatan sa Sabah. Hindi ito usapin lang ng maliit na isla. Ito, malaking lupa ito. Ito ay may langis, may minerals (at) talagang dapat nakikinabang ang Pilipino sa Sabah ngayon pa lang. Kung paano natin ginigiit ang isla sa West Philippine Sea, dapat ay igiit natin ang karapatan natin sa Sabah pero di tayo humihingi ng gulo,” the legislator said.
The lawmaker noted the Philippines already has a law – Republic Act 5446, signed in August 1968 – that regards Sabah as a territory over which the Philippines has acquired “dominion and sovereignty.”
In his first privilege speech in 2022, the senator pushed for the Philippines to assert its rights over Sabah.
“I intend to propose an amendment on the definition of baselines under the Maritime Zones bill, to include the Philippines’ position on Sabah.”
Because of this, Padilla said he intends to propose an amendment on the definition of baselines under the Maritime Zones bill, to include the Philippines’ position on Sabah which was provided for under RA 5446.
Senator Francis Tolentino, who sponsored the bill for the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act, agreed to include a line that the Philippines is not abandoning its claim to Sabah, so long as it is phrased properly.
“Kung magagawa ng tamang lengwahe ang pag amyenda di ako tututol … as long as it will strengthen not just the bill but our resolve that what is rightfully ours should be ours,” Tolentino said.
