Sen JV Ejercito | PHOTO: Ejercito’s office
MANILA, Philippines — Senator JV Ejercito said he no longer considers China a friend, considering its “very hostile and aggressive” behavior in the West Philippine Sea.
The senator made this remark on Tuesday while explaining why he wants all utilities that involve national security like the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to be under the full control of the government or a Filipino entity.
READ: Senators want China investor out of NGCP
Ejercito said he could not help but be concerned over China’s recent actions and behavior in the disputed waters.
“Medyo hindi na kaibigan ang turing sa atin e, medyo nababastos na yung ating mga Coast Guard, yung mga Navy at yung ating mga mangingisda, kaya hindi na kaibigan ang tingin ko po sa kanila,” Ejercito said in an interview over ABS-CBN’s Kabayan on Tuesday.
(They no longer treat us as friends. They disrespect our Coast Guard, Navy, and fishermen; that’s why I no longer consider them as friends.)
Seeing how a power outage “paralyzed” the entire Philippine airspace “in just a blink of an eye” on January 1 also made the senator concerned.
“Pwede rin palang mangyari ‘yan dito sa atin na isang switch e maparalisa ang buong ekonomiya natin dahil mawawalan tayo ng kuryente,” he said.
(It’s possible that the same thing could happen to us here where a single switch could paralyze our entire economy because of a power outage.)
Ejercito also recalled how some senators were earlier prevented to inspect the NGCP, bolstering suspicions that the State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC) has control of the company.
SGCC owns 40 percent of the NGCP while the controlling 60 percent share remains with a group of Filipino businessmen led by tycoons Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr.
“Kaya lalo akong nangangamba e kasi lalo ngayon napansin mo, very hostile, very aggressive na po ang kanilang behavior lalo na dyan sa West Philippine Sea. Wala kong problema e but I still maintain my position na itong mga utilites na may kinalaman din sa national security kinakailangan po nasa ilalim ng kontrol ng Pilipinas,” Ejercito went on.
(That’s why I’m even more concerned especially now if you notice their behavior is becoming very hostile and aggressive, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. I don’t have any issues, but I still maintain my position that utilities related to national security should be under the control of the Philippines)
He said they are discussing in the Senate the possibility of filing a resolution to investigate and have a proper audit of the NGCP’s performance.
In 2019, Ejercito also questioned Beijing’s sincerity in its dealings over territorial disputes with the Philippines after a Chinese vessel abandoned 22 Filipino fishermen aboard a sinking boat in the West Philippine Sea.