MANILA, Philippines— China has no right to dictate to Filipinos, especially those who questioned the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan province, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said on Friday.
According to the former police chief, it is only normal for Filipinos to cast doubt on China, considering its actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Alam mo, dapat ang ayusin nila muna yung mga actions nila, para hindi magiging kaduda-duda on our part. Normal lang sa atin ‘yan na magdududa,” he said in a phone interview with Senate reporters.
(They should first fix their actions so that we won’t have doubts on our part. It’s normal for us to doubt.)
“Alam natin ‘yung ginagawa nila sa West Philippine Sea, e. Kaya sino bang hindi magdududa kung wala silang ginagawang masama dyan sa West Philippine Sea, magdududa ba tayo sa presensya nila dito, ‘di ba?” he added.
(We know what they’re doing in the West Philippine Sea. So who wouldn’t doubt if they’re not doing anything wrong there in the West Philippine Sea? Would we doubt their presence here?)
Dela Rosa was responding to China’s comment that some Filipino politicians were “hyping up” the maritime conflicts between the two nations by linking the presence of Chinese students in Cagayan to the WPS dispute.
READ: China embassy: Issue vs Sino students reeks of ‘McCaRthyism’
Several resolutions have been filed in the House of Representatives to look into the surge of Chinese students in the province.
Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, defended his fellow lawmakers.
“Huwag nilang diktahan ‘yung mga Pilipino, particularly ‘yung mga politicians sabi nila nagha-hype hype lang,” he said.
(They shouldn’t dictate to Filipinos, particularly the politicians, whom they say are just hyping things up)
“Yung mga ginagawa nila sa West Philippine Sea, ‘di ba pwede kami magduda? Buti sana kung mabait sila hindi tayo magdududa, eh sinasalbahe nila tayo dyan sa West Philippine Sea. Eh ano pa, ano tayo magtatanga-tangahan?” he added.
(How about their actions in the West Philippine Sea, can’t we be suspicious? We wouldn’t doubt if they are good to us, but they’re harassing us in the West Philippine Sea. So are we going to play dumb?)
Dela Rosa then urged the government to promptly act on China’s growing presence in the country, calling it “worrisome.”
READ: Senators sound alarm over Chinese students’ activities in Cagayan
This issue, he said, should just not be left with the Bureau of Immigration or certain agencies, as it requires a whole-of-government approach.
“So dapat talaga magsimula na ngayon, magsimula na ‘yung imbestigasyon, hindi ‘yung maghintay pa tayo na magmukha na lang tayong tanga sa mga pangyayari,” said the senator.
(It should really start now, the investigation should start now, instead of just waiting for us to look foolish amid all this happening.)
“Nakakabahala talaga. Nakakabahala ‘yan ah. Hindi dapat ‘yan. Hindi ‘yan dapat ipagwawalang bahala lang kundi nakakabahala talaga ‘yan,” he stressed.
(It’s really alarming. That should not be dismissed lightly because it’s really alarming.)
NOTE: AI Generated Content, used for English translation.