Manila, April 30 -- Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Wednesday called for an inquiry into the alleged illegal occupation by Chinese coast guard personnel into Sandy Cay, a sandbar within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and just off Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

He said the alleged incursion into the country's territorial waters constitutes a grave threat to national sovereignty.

"The illegal seizure of Sandy Cay is an outrageous assault on Philippine sovereignty," he said through proposed Resolution No. 1347.

"We filed this resolution to galvanize a whole-of-government response and make it clear to the international community that we will not stand down in the face of unlawful acts," he added.

Senate P...