MANILA, Philippines- Wala sa “war footing” ang Pilipinas, sa kabila ng insidente kamakailan ng agresyon ng Chinese Coast Guard aggression laban sa Philippine vessels sa West Philippine Sea, ayon kay Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
Sa budget hearing ng DFA sa House Committee on Appropriations nitong Martes, sinabi ni Manalona committed pa rin ang Pilipinas sa pagresolba sa mga isyu sa China sa pamamagitan ng “diplomatic and peaceful” na mga pamamaraan.
“Is it wise na nasa war footing ang Pilipinas in response to Chinese incursions?” tanong ni Kabataan Party-List Representative Raoul Manuel.
“We are not on a war footing. What we are simply doing is trying to actually protect our sovereignty in our EEZ (exclusive economic zone) through diplomatic and peaceful means,” tugon ni Manalo, at binanggit na ang Philippine boats na binomba ng water cannon ng Chinese Coast Guard sa isang resupply mission sa mga sundalong nakatalaga sa BRP Sierra Madre, ay “not intended for any other intention”.
“As far as we know in our official talks with China, we are still committed to resolving our differences peacefully,” dagdag niya.
Binigyang-diin ng DFA chief na walang record ang ahensya ng umano’y kasunduan sa China, na ayon sa tagapagsalita ng China’s foreign ministry ay nangako ang Pilipinas na aalisin umano ang BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal. Sinabi ni Manalo sa panel na hiniling ng DFA sa China ang kopya ng umano’y kasunduan, subalit hindi nila ito naipakita.
“It was claimed by the Chinese embassy, but we have no record of such an agreement. We asked China to give us a copy, but they never gave us a copy of any written agreement … Unless we can get a clearer indication of such an agreement, we just have to assume there is no such agreement that exists,” giit niya.
“Pwede ba tayo magsulat formally sa embassy sa claim nila na ‘yun? Kung kanino ba nangyari ‘yan, sa administration ni Duterte, o sa ngayon?” ayon naman kay ACT Teachers Party List Rep. France Castro.
“It definitely did not take place under this administration. In fact we have already asked China on many levels for a copy, but they never gave us a copy. I never received a hard copy of such an agreement,” tugon ni Manalo. RNT/SA
