MANILA -- Members of the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman community on Sunday joined a lightning rally urging graduates to champion Philippine sovereignty.

Faculty, staff and students at the state-run university's commencement exercises unfurled a bright red banner emblazoned with the phrase "Atin ang Pinas," which translates to "The Philippines is ours", as seen by a photo from the UP Academic Employees Union.

Towards the end of the program, some graduates also raised placards with messages on various issues, including China, press freedom, political prisoners and LGBT rights.

Mga mag aaral na nagsipagtapos, nagsagawa ng rally sa dulo ng programa ng ika-108 Commencement Exercises ng UP Diliman. | via @AbnerMercado pic.twitter.com/FG45f0G1dg

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) June 30, 2019

The protest comes on the heels of President Rodrigo Duterte's statement that Chinese fishers can venture into waters in the West Philippine Sea where Manila has exclusive rights over natural resources.

• Duterte tells Pinoy fishermen in Reed Bank incident: 'I'm sorry but that's how it is'
• ‘Constitution, fisheries code prohibit foreigners from fishing in PH EEZ’

The 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone cover Recto (Reed) Bank, where a Filipino boat sank after being hit by a Chinese vessel that left 22 crewmen adrift for hours before they were picked up by a Vietnamese craft.

• Filipino fishing boat was ‘sideswiped’ during Reed Bank incident, says Duterte