MANILA, Philippines- Kinastigo ng National Security Council (NSC) ang ilang grupo na inuulit ang “narrative at fear-mongering” ng Tsina sa West Philippine Sea.
“The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) are no longer a threat because they have been strategically defeated, but some groups linked to them have been echoing China’s propaganda on the West Philippine Sea issue,” ayon kay NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya sa isang panayam.
“The above-ground organizations are now harping similar themes from fear mongers in the West Philippine Sea issue,” aniya pa rin sabay sabing, “I can now hear the above-ground organizations like Pamalakaya, Bayan Muna, they are now following the Beijing line… They are saying that we are provoking Chinese.”
“Whose side are you really on? It is clear that by creating this fear mongering threat, they are not on the same level as China,” dagdag na wika ni Malaya.
Binanatan kasi ng ilang grupo kabilang na ang NDF si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dahil tila umaasa umano ito ng tulong sa Estados Unidos sa gitna ng lumalagong agresyon ng Tsina sa West Philippine Sea, sabay sabing ang pagdami ng presensya ng militar ng Washington ay maaaring maging dahilan para maging target ng galit ng Beijing ang Maynila.
Nauna rito, sinabi ng Bayan Muna at Pamalakaya na dapat ay maging “independent” ang Pilipinas at hindi dapat sakyan ang “imperialist agenda” ng Estados Unidos.
“I’m disappointed and surprised that these people who supposedly love the country, are taking the bait and are following China’s talking points,” ayon kay Malaya.
“Unfortunately, napag-iiwanan na naman itong Kaliwa kaya this is another nail in the coffin and will decrease their relevance,” patuloy ng opisyal.
Niresbakan naman ng Bayan Muna ang naging pahayag ni Malaya kung saan pinupuna ng nasabing grupo ang agresibong aksyon ng Tsina West Philippine Sea habang tinutuligsa ang Estados Unidos para sa “hegemonic at militarist actions” nito sa rehiyon.
“Calling for demilitarization is not fear-mongering. It is an assertion of our independence, assertion na tayo ay tunay na malaya at hindi tuta ng mga dayuhan – Tsino man o Kano,” ayon kay Bayan Muna executive vice president Carlos Isagani Zarate.
“We have been calling out China’s aggression and incursions since 2008 and have held numerous protests and other activities to assert Philippine sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea,” dagdag na pahayag nito.
Kinuwestiyon ng Bayan Muna ang posisyon ni Malaya sa Tsina sa panahon ng nakalipas na administrasyon, Inilarawan nito si Malaya bilang “PDP-Laban officer at isang Duterte minion.”
“He was conveniently silent during all those times under the said rabid pro-China administration,” ayon kay Zarate.
“It is now, too, convenient once again for him to supposedly come out of the woodwork thru the bidding of the pro-US Marcos Jr.,” aniya pa rin.
Wika ni Zarate, naniniwala ang Bayan Muna na “the Philippines would be in the best position if it will assert a truly independent foreign policy — one that is not dependent on any other country especially bullies like the US and China.”
Pinasinungalingan naman ni Malaya ang pahayag na ito ni Zarate sabay sabing ang Pilipinas ay “not kowtowing to any foreign power.”
“We are undertaking this defense arrangements with many other countries because of shared values,” ayon kay Malaya.
Samantala, sa kabila ng hindi pagkakasundo sa usapin ng Tsina, sinabi ni Malaya na nananatiling bukas ang gobyerno na isulong ang isang “political settlement” kasama ang mga miyembro ng NDF at kanilang ‘local armed wing.’
“The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process is waiting for a signal from the higher ups to begin the negotiations,” pahayag ni Malaya. Kris Jose
