DFA: Bomb plot not to cause deeper problem with China

By: Matikas Santos - 10 years ago

DFA spokesman Charles Jose. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – An “isolated plot” by “misguided elements.”

That is how the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) intends to assure the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines after authorities foiled an alleged plot to attack the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and Chinese establishments.

“We believe these arrested people are misguided elements of an isolated plot. We are not concerned that this will [become a deeper problem with China],” DFA spokesman Charles Jose told reporters Tuesday.

“We will explain to China in a note verbale and assure them that these [planned attacks] are not official government policy to use violence in resolving the ongoing territorial dispute,” he said.

The four men arrested at the Naia Terminal 3 were found with improvised incendiary devices and admitted in interrogation that want to send a message to the Philippine government to toughen its stance in the territorial dispute with China.

Their planned targets were the Naia Terminal 3, SM Mall of Asia, the main office of DMCI in Makati City, and the Chinese Embassy.

“Our purpose is only to make a wake-up call to the government about its soft stand against China and not to hurt people,” Guerrero had reportedly said during interrogation.

Jose however said that the Philippines’ stand in the maritime dispute is not soft at all.

“Bringing our case against China before the United Nations is not a soft position. What we are after is to have a conclusive and durable resolution to the dispute by getting a clear and very specific decision from the court as to our maritime entitlements under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos),” Jose said.

The Philippines and China are locked in a maritime dispute over the South China Sea, which China claims nearly 90 percent through its nine-dash line claim.