MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos will never be cowed into becoming a province of China, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said Tuesday.
Morales made the statement in response to fears that the current issues between the Philippines and China could be a prelude to the Philippines becoming a province of China.
The issues include the territorial row over the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, the surge of illegal Chinese workers in the Philippines, and more recently, the alleged presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels around Pag-Asa Island.
“The Filipinos cannot be cowed into getting to such kind of state,” Morales said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.
“I don’t think we will ever be a province of China,” she added.
For his part, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines should ensure that the Philippines does not become a province of China.
“Sometimes, when there’s an issue involving China, it’s difficult to decipher when our people speak, whether they’re speaking for the Philippines or whether they’re speaking for China,” Del Rosario said.
“But I think we should work on ensuring that the Philippines, for the sake of our children and our grandchildren, does not become a province of China,” he added.
Morales and Del Rosario earlier filed a complaint, technically called a communication, before the ICC on behalf of Filipino fishermen who were “persecuted and injured” by China’s “atrocious actions” in the West Philippine Sea.
READ: Ex-DFA chief Del Rosario, Morales sue China’s Xi at ICC
Del Rosario and Morales have accused Xi of crimes against humanity over China’s activities to gain control over most of the South China Sea. /muf