PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday said he had no knowledge about the reported harassment by the Chinese navy of Filipino troops at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
At a hearing at the House of Representatives last week, May 30, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said the Philippine government has filed a diplomatic protest in connection with that incident. “We filed a protest regarding that…. The President had strong instructions,” the country’s top diplomat said.
On the other hand, Mr. Duterte told reporters on Tuesday upon his arrival in Manila: “I don’t know about that incident…. What kind of harassment in the first place before I… answer the question, what kind of harassment was this? This is the first time I’ve heard of it.”
At the hearing by the House Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea, Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary C. Alejano said: “I have this information just this May 11, weren’t our troops harassed in Ayungin Shoal? They’re supplying our troops there. They were harassed not only by the coast guard but by the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy.”
“If this information was not released, would the Duterte administration even inform the public of such grave concern? Looking at how they have been carrying out their secret diplomacy, I do not think so. They would have concealed it again and then say to the public that everything is fine with China, when it is actually not,” Mr. Alejano also said.
Mr. Duterte also said he “doubts” the military would follow him if he orders them to defend the country from Chinese forces.
“Madali sabihin ‘yan eh. ‘Pag sinabi ko ‘yan sa military pati pulis, pumunta ka diyan, mag-suicide kayo (It is easy to say that. If I tell the military and the police to go there and commit suicide), do you think they will follow me?” he said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR