PHL has filed ‘several dozens’ of diplomatic protests vs. China, Cayetano says

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday insisted that the Philippines has been filing "several dozens" of diplomatic protests against the actions of China in the West Philippine Sea. 

Cayetano made the assertion amid calls for his resignation over his supposed inaction on Chinese incursions in the disputed territories.

In a briefing with the House Special Committee on West Philippine Sea, the Cabinet official said the Philippines has been filing diplomatic protests for two years already, but they chose not to announce it regularly through the media.

"We have been filing a diplomatic protest. But the critics want us to announce it loudly and to confront China each and every time to the media. That is not conducive through the ongoing talks," he said.

"Several dozens [of it]. Maybe 50, 100. I have to count it over the past two years," he added.

Justice Carpio, Alejano

Cayetano said he has likewise assured Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio in several instances that his department would fight to protect the country's interests.

"I assured him, we will protect our interest, we will fight for it, [pero] lang hindi ina-announce," he said.

Magdalo party-list Gary Alejano has called for Cayetano's resignation, even pointing out that the Philippines lost control over Sandy Cay, a part of the Pag-asa Island network of sand bars and reefs, during the Duterte administration.

During the briefing, Alejano insisted that the government is surrendering the Philippines to China only to appease the East Asian nation.

"By all means we should talk to them. But they would continue to pursue their national interest. Kung hahayaan natin [sila] mag-establish ng norm paano mo patitigilin [sila] later?" he said.

Cayetano asked Alejano to trust him in his work as the country's top diplomat.

"We're not asking you to trust us blindly. We're asking you to trust us because that is the work of diplomats. If you assign someone in your organization, may it be Magdalo, to do the negotiation, if you don't trust him, replace him," he said.

"But we're in a democracy. We elected President [Rodrigo] Duterte, he was transparent that he will be going bilateral. And we have been reporting to you and the public," he added. — RSJ, GMA News