Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros lambasted on Monday the “deafening” silence of Malacañang on the marking of the 7th anniversary of the Philippines’ legal victory over China.
Though the administration appears to be distancing from China, Hontiveros decried the absence of outright rejection of Beijing’s repeated violations of the Philippine sovereignty from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself.
“Isa pa sa pinalala ng dating administrasyon ay ang pagpapaka-bestfriend niya sa Tsina. Pero nakita natin na itong kasalukuyang administrasyon ay tila lumalayo sa Tsina at mas lumapit sa US at iba pang karatig bansa,” she said at the Kapihan sa Senado.
(The former administration made it worse when they treated China as its best friend. But now we can see that this current administration is shying away from China while advancing towards the US and other nearby countries.)
“Even if this pivot towards the larger international community is for real, hanggang ngayon, wala paring tayong narinig sa Presidente na tahasang pagtutol niya sa paulit-ulit na pambabastos ng Tsina sa ating soberanya,” said the senator.
(Even if this pivot towards the larger international community is for real, until now, we still haven’t heard from the President his outright opposition to China’s repeated encroachments on our sovereignty.)
It was then that she recalled not hearing anything from Malacañang when the country marked last week its historic win in the 2016 arbitral decision, invalidating China’s claims in the South China Sea.
“Pagkatapos mag-statement ang Chinese Embassy sa kanilang pagbasura sa ating tagumpay sa arbitral ruling, wala man lang kibo ang Palasyo? The silence is deafening,” the senator lamented.
(After the Chinese Embassy made a statement dismissing our victory in the arbitral ruling, we did not hear anything from the Palace. The silence is deafening.)
Hontiveros then mentioned how China’s boats repeatedly blocked the resupply missions of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy in the West Philippine Sea.
These blockades by Chinese vessels, she said, could kill government troops who may end up starving in the disputed territory.
“Sa parating na Sona (state of the nation address), gusto kong makarinig ng maliwanag, maayos at konkretong mga hakbang na gagawin ng ating bansa para tunay na tumindig laban sa Tsina,” Hontiveros said.
(In the upcoming Sona, I want to hear clear and concrete steps our country will take to stand up against China truly.)
Marcos will deliver his Sona on Monday, July 24.