SENATOR Risa Hontiveros said voters should elect leaders who can stand up to China, as the country commemorates Araw ng Kagitingan on Saturday.

“Pinapaalala ng araw na ito ang puso, pawis, at dugo ng mga sundalo at gerilyang Pilipino na nagbuwis ng buhay para sa kalayaan ng Pilipinas. Huwag natin balewalain ang alaala nila,” she said.

“Magluklok tayo ng mga lider na maipagtatanggol tayo tulad ng pagtanggol sa atin ng mga sundalo sa Bataan. We must continue to protect and defend our country against those who threaten our peace, freedom, and sovereignty.”

Hontiveros stressed China remains the biggest threat to the country’s national security, especially for its numerous and continuous incursions into Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea.

“Nitong darating na halalan, dapat ang piliin natin ay mga lider na hindi takot tumindig sa Tsina. Iginigiit din natin na ang pagtindig ay hindi katumbas ang digmaan. Kaya nating lumaban sa Tsina nang hindi gumagamit ng dahas,” said the senator.

“Our country has some of the best and brightest political and diplomatic minds in the region. They give me confidence that we can put a stop to China’s aggression.”

The re-electionist senator filed several Senate Resolutions vis-a-vis China’s activities in the WPS, such as Senate Resolution 369, which demands China pay over P200 billion worth of ecological damage to the Philippine seas as well as Senate Resolution 509, which seeks to investigate the possible collusion of Filipino entities in the building of artificial islands in the WPS.

The senator also highlighted protecting sovereignty also means protecting the wealth and resources of the country as WPS alone reportedly contains as much as 130 billion barrels of oil.

“Ang kayamanan sa WPS ay atin lang. Ito ay mga yamang makapagbibigay lakas sa ating ekonomiya para sa healthy buhay at hanapbuhay ng lahat,” said Hontiveros.

“Kaya sa eleksiyon, maghalal tayo ng mga pinunong hindi tayo ibebenta sa Tsina. Huwag natin sayangin ang pagkakataong ito.”