Eleven senators crossed party lines Monday to file a strongly-worded resolution denouncing the illegal activities of China in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EZZ) and other parts of the West Philippine Sea.In filing Senate Resolution 708, principally authored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, the senators said the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the country’s territories violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.The measure was expected to be signed and passed by the other members of the 24-man Senate, who had yet to receive a physical copy of the resolution since the chamber was not in session on Monday.

Only a simple majority, or 13 votes, is required to pass a Senate resolution.Those who co-authored the resolution and signed it electronically, were Senators Ralph Recto, Nancy Binay, Richard Gordon, Lito Lapid, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva and Bong Revilla for the majority and Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Leila de Lima, and Drilon for the minority.The resolution supported Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.Locsin on Monday declared that the Philippines will never abandon Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef, which it can use as a military outpost, after a spokesperson of China’s mission in the European Union said it belongs to China.While the territorial dispute is between the Philippines in China, Locsin said, the situation would fall under the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States if “the other side sinks a Philippine vessel.”Meanwhile, Hontiveros on Monday renewed her call for China to pay over P800 billion in reparations for her ecological damage of the West Philippine Sea, which can be used for the country’s COVID-19 response.She said the Palace should force its “best friend” China to pay its debt.“This is one sure way to raise funds to address the financial needs of our people. Let us not be dependent on community pantries for their food and help,” Hontiveros said.