Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that he sees no issue with Chinese fishermen venturing into private Philippine waters – despite his country having exclusive rights to their use. It echoes Philippine President Duterte’s words earlier this week when he reaffirmed good relations between China and the Philippines and urged a peaceful conclusion to the years-long conflict. Their words have led to fresh calls from the opposition for Mr Duterte’s impeachment over constitutional treason.

This comes amid an ongoing dispute between Beijing and Manila over rights to supposed sovereign parts of the South China Sea.

The Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a 200 nautical mile area where only domestic fishermen are allowed to work, according to the constitution.

Beijing has been pressuring Manila to allow them to operate in their EEZ due to both countries’ disputed claims over the ocean region.

Asked about Mr Duterte’s friendly words to Beijing earlier this week, Mr Sotto said: “He’s the President. The buck stops with him.

“If it’s wrong or right, it’s his accountability.

“We must realise that there are fishermen from other countries – it is not confined to the Chinese.”

He added that there is no issue with China fishing in their EEZ “as long as we’re allowed to fish also in their zones, because they will treat us as friends likewise”.

This will be seen by many as a diplomatic victory for Beijing after weeks of Chinese aggression in the area.

Mr Duterte unprecedentedly appeared to yield to China earlier this week when he dismissed the ordeal of 22 Filipino fishermen whose ship was rammed by a Chinese vessel.

Justifying his pacifism, he controversially said: “Well, I’m sorry, but that is how it is.

“We are friends. And (they’re) of the same view that that should not result to a bloody conclusion.”

However, lawmakers and politicians alike have queued up to lambast the embattled President over his decision.

Former foreign secretary Albert Del Rosario – who was mysteriously held last week in a Hong Kong airport following his criticism of China – today labelled the matter an impeachable offence.

He added: “The constitution states that the President and the military must secure the national territory and it includes the EEZ.

“To be able to violate that is really a basis for impeachment of the president. He can be impeached.

“This will, no doubt, embolden the Chinese fishermen under the militia strategy that they are using because they are acting like bullies before, what more now?”

Vice President Leni Robredo, meanwhile, urged Mr Duterte to look to the constitution when making his decision.

He said: “Just by the term alone, it’s called exclusive economic zone in the 1987 Constitution, the law is very specific on its provision about exclusive economic zone which is for the exclusive use and enjoyment of Filipino citizens.

“If you allow other nationalities, not Filipinos, to fish there, that’s against the Constitution.”

He warned of more modern Chinese vessels out-competing local fishermen and devestating the economy.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio noted: “The Philippines has exclusive sovereign right to exploit all the fish, oil, gas and other mineral resources in its (EEZ). This sovereign right belongs to the Filipino people and no government official can waive this sovereign right of the Filipino people without their consent.”

Though Mr Duterte’s spokesman insisted earlier today that his nation would not be relinquishing its right to resources within the EEZ, he is likely to come under significant domestic pressure to do a U-turn on the situation.

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