‘Mag-ingat,’ Koko Pimentel tells Bongbong Marcos after China’s warning

FILE PHOTO: National flags are placed outside a room where Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and China’s Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng address reporters after their meeting in Beijing, China, January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/Files

MANILA,  Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday cautioned President  Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos about making statements regarding the country’s foreign policy.

“Yes mag ingat,” Pimentel said in a message to reporters when sought for China’s latest tirades against the Philippines.

“Also because we (PH) chose to adhere to the One China policy. That’s our own decision, hence, our actions must match our official positions,” he added.

China on Tuesday issued a strong warning against the Philippines after Marcos congratulated Lai Ching-te for winning the presidential election in Taiwan.

“On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan’s next President,” Marcos wrote on  X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night.

This irked China, and warned the Philippines “not to play with fire.” It also accused Marcos of violating the One China principle.

For Pimentel, any issue involving Taiwan should  be better left with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).

“We have MECO to deal with Taiwan. This is because of our one China policy,” he said.

“Let us continue to adhere to the One China policy,” the minority leader then added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) already explained the President’s congratulatory message to Lai, saying it was just “his way of thanking them for hosting our OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers).”

“Nevertheless, the Philippines reaffirms its One China Policy,”  the DFA said on Tuesday.