FILE PHOTO. President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping.
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday asked former President Rodrigo Duterte to stop defending China, saying it was his presidency that “made the Philippines look like a Chinese puppet in the eyes of the international community.”
Though he admitted entering into a “status quo” agreement in the West Philippine Sea, Duterte assured Filipinos last week that the Philippines did not concede anything to China.
But Hontiveros seemed not satisfied with the explanation.
“Duterte and his men all have conflicting claims. Ang gulo nilang lahat, parang gobyerno niya nung pinuno siya,” she said in a statement.
(Duterte and his men all have conflicting claims. They’re all so disorganized, like his government when he was in power.)
She said Duterte should also stop saying that the Philippines was in a better condition during his presidency.
On the contrary, Hontiveros said it was during the Duterte administration that China passed the “disastrous fishing ban against Filipino fisherfolk.”
“It was during his time that Chinese Navy vessels armed with missiles chased and harassed Filipino journalist,” she said.
“It was his presidency that made the Philippines look like a Chinese puppet in the eyes of the international community,” the senator further said.
According to her, there were more “incidents of intimidation and threats” before but they were not made public.
“Pero ngayon, kitang-kita ang kahangalan ng Tsina,” Hontivero said.
(But now, China’s folly is clearly visible.)
“Huwag niya nang ipagtanggol ang best friend niya. Walang napala ang Pilipinas,” she also said.
(He shouldn’t defend his best friend anymore. The Philippines gained nothing)
It was Duterte’s former spokesman, Harry Roque, who first confirmed the verbal deal with China which was later denied by then president’s chief legal counsel, Panelo Salvador.