MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official on Monday accused the Embassy of China in the Philippines of being “constant liars,” after its recent claim that a “new model” in the Ayungin Shoal was approved by Philippine officials.
According to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, the public should just stop paying attention to claims released by the Chinese embassy regarding the West Philippine Sea as it only seeks to dissuade public opinion to their advantage.
“These are constant liars, ginugulo lang nila ‘yung public discourse kaya dapat hindi na natin pinagtutuunan ng pansin itong mga ito (they are only messing up with public discourse so we should stop paying them any attention),” Tarriela said in an interview over Radyo 630.
READ: China, PH agreed on ‘new model’ for management at Ayungin — Chinese spox
“Paulit-ulit ‘yung mga agreement na ‘yan pero wala naman silang mapakitang dokumento (they keep mentioning such agreements, but they can’t show any document) that would really support whatever claim that they are doing,” he added.
Tarriela made the pronouncement after the Embassy of China claimed that a “new model” in the Ayungin Shoal was allegedly approved by officials in the Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Security Advisor.
Both Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año denied this.
READ: Año belies China’s ‘new model’ pact for Ayungin
Tarriela noted that Beijing, in its latest claim, is merely trying to justify its recent water cannon attack in Scarborough Shoal by disseminating “lies.”
“Kung makikita mo, every time nagpapalabas ng ganiyang kasinungalingan ‘yung embassy, ito lagi after i-expose ang incidents [sa West Philippine Sea],” Tarriela said in in the same radio interview.
(If you notice, the embassy only ever releases such lies whenever we expose incidents in the West Philippine Sea.)
He cited previous claims including the gentleman’s agreement between Beijing and former President Rodrigo Duterte, which he noted to have surfaced right after a water cannon incident in the Ayungin Shoal.
READ: Tarriela slams China’s Scarborough pact claim
“Ibig sabihin, ginugulo lang lagi ng embassy ‘yung public discourse and they are also wanting to influence public opinion to justify ‘yung aggressive action na kanilang ginawa sa Bajo de Masinloc,” said Tarriela.
(This means the Chinese embassy is merely trying to stir up public discourse, they are also wanting to influence public opinion to justify their aggressive action in Bajo de Masinloc.)
“So nililito lang nila tayo sini-sway lang nila tayo, dini-divide nila ang Filipino people para i-justify na ‘yung ginawa nila… ‘napagkasunduan naman ‘to, so tayo ang nag violate’,” he added.
(So they are just confusing and swaying us, they are dividing the Filipino people to justify what they did… ‘we had an agreement, so they’re the ones who violated.’)
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