MAGDALO Representative Gary Alejano on Sunday, November 25, said the friendship between the Philippines and China is an irony amid the recent reports on the supposed bullying of the Chinese Coast Guard against a reporter covering in the Panatag or Scarborough Shoal.
Last November 8, a TV journalist and his crew were driven away by the Chinese Coast Guard from filming a documentary at the Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
A Chinese Coast Guard officer even threatened to use force if the crew does not leave the area, which is under the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
The incident happened around two weeks before the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines.
“Nilalatagan natin ang China ng red carpet, habang sila naman ay pinalalayas tayo sa ating teritoryo. Ganyan ba ang pagkakaibigan?” said Alejano as he noted that Panatag Shoal is under the Philippines’ jurisdiction.
Alejano condemns the “illegal action” of China. “That area is within our country’s jurisdiction. Bakit Pilipino ang pinagbabawalan doon? I condemn this illegal action, yet again, by the Chinese Coast Guard against our people.”
Alejano likewise questioned the supposed “friendly relations” between the Philippines and China as he warned that if the Philippine government remains mum on the illegal actions of China, more Filipinos will be at the receiving end of China’s bullying.
“Dalawang taon nang iniyayabang ng administrasyon ang umano’y maayos na sitwasyon sa West Philippine Sea dahil sa pakikipagkaibigan natin sa China. Sa loob ng dalawang taong ito, patuloy pa rin ang pang-aabuso ng China sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
“Filipino fishermen are being prevented from fishing in our own waters. Even, the Philippine military was also not spared of intimidation during patrol missions. The harassment of Chinese forces is becoming a norm, especially with the silence of the Duterte administration and its pro-China stance,” Alejano added.
Alejano said that if indeed diplomatic ties between the Philippines and China are warmer, the government should seize every opportunity to protect its people.
“Hindi dapat mahigitan ng kahit anong loan o infrastructure agreement ang kahalagahan ng seguridad ng ating mga kababayan at ng bansa,” he said.
During the two-day visit of Xi in the Philippines last week, the country sealed government projects from Chinese loans, including a Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation on oil and gas development. (SunStar Philippines)