Validate water cannon incident first, says Trillanes

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. INQUIRER.net/Noy Morcoso III

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III should convene the Cabinet Security Cluster to validate the reported firing of water cannon last month at Filipino fishermen in the disputed Panatag Shoal in Western Philippine Sea before taking appropriate actions, Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV said on Tuesday.

But Trillanes, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said the government should first validate if the reported incident was true.

“I would recommend that the President convene the Cabinet Security Cluster to validate the information and determine the proper course of action,” he said in a text message.

“We have to validate the report first because it may turn out to be the same as the report on the so-called concrete blocks/structures being built by the Chinese in Scarborough which turned out to be false and the President had to invalidate the info himself,” the senator added.

The President has already asked an explanation from China and the Department of Foreign Affairs has summoned China’s d’ affaires to strongly protest the incident.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, an administration ally, backed the government’s immediate action and diplomatic approach on the issue.

“This kind of treatment happened only now and it’s important that we don’t let this pass,” he said.

He said the filing of diplomatic protest against China would show that the country will not allow to be bullied by anyone.

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