MANILA, Philippines – Mahigpit na kinondena ng Department of National Defense (DND) nitong Sabado, Enero 24 ang babala ng tagapagsalita ng Ministry of Foreign Affairs ng China na magbabayad ang ilang opisyal ng Pilipinas sa umano’y pagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon.
“The Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines strongly condemn such an affront to any of its members and reiterates that it shall not be cowed by any official of the PROC (People’s Republic of China) whether in their homeland or as guests here,” saad sa pahayag ni DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong.
“We shall continue to speak against their lies and malign actions when such are committed,” dagdag ni Andolong.
Ang pahayag ng DND ay kasunod ng “a word of advice” ni Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun sa mg taong inilarawan niyang “relevant individuals in the Philippines.”
“Immediately stop making provocations and stop confusing right and wrong, or they will pay the price for what they did,” sinabi ni Guo.
Tumugon ang DND sa pagsasabing ang mga pahayag na ito “proves the unflinching and twisted attempt by the PROC to spread distorted narratives and pursue its ineffective and distasteful campaign to bully smaller countries.”
“The WPS (West Philippine Sea) and any of its features have never been part of the PROC and we shall continue to perform our duty to stop the PROC’s malign influence and illegal activities in our areas of jurisdiction,” dagdag pa.
Wala pang tugon ang Chinese Embassy sa Manila kaugnay nito.
Noong nakaraang linggo, naghain ang China ng diplomatic protests laban kay Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela sa social media posts laban sa mga lider nito.
Sa kabila nito, nanindigan si Tarriela at sinabing ang kanyang mga pahayag ay batay sa “factual accounts.” RNT/JGC
