Hontiveros asks China to pay for WPS coral reef destruction

Senator Risa Hontiveros is calling for China to pay billions of pesos for the destruction of coral reefs in the West Philippine Sea, urging a Senate inquiry and compensation for Filipino fishermen.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard have reported evidence of extensive coral harvesting and ecological damage at Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal.

An international maritime expert has warned of a potential collapse of Philippine fisheries if China's destructive activities in the West Philippine Sea continue unabated.

China, through its Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, has denied the allegations of coral damage, calling them baseless and a "political drama," and suggested the Philippines remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal to prevent further environmental harm.

The Philippine government, with the Office of the Solicitor General, is considering filing charges against China over the incident.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is awaiting agency assessments on the environmental damage and cited the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea obliging states to protect the marine environment.