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Alejano condemns China ‘bullying’ of Reporter’s Notebook team, Duterte ‘silence’


Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano on Sunday condemned the Chinese Coast Guard's barring GMA News' Reporter's Notebook team from filming a documentary in the West Philippine Sea.

“That area is within our country’s jurisdiction. Bakit Pilipino ang pinagbabawalan doon? I condemn this illegal action, yet again, by the Chinese Coast Guard against our people,” Alejano said in a statement.

GMA News' Jun Veneracion and his team were filming at Panatag Shoal earlier this month when the Chinese Coast Guard approached and told them they could not conduct filming in the area, which they claimed was part of the sea area of the People's Republic of China.

The Chinese Coast Guard officer even threatened to "make a forced matter" if the team would not leave the are immediately.

Alejano questioned the supposed friendly relations between the China and the Philippines, which was highlighted especially after Chinese President Xi Jinping's two-day state visit to the country.

“Dalawang taon nang iniyayabang ng administrasyon ang umano’y maayos na sitwasyon sa West Philippine Sea dahil sa pakikipagkaibigan natin sa China. Sa loob ng dalawang taong ito, patuloy pa rin ang pang-aabuso ng China sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.

If the Philippine government stays silent on China's actions in the West Philippine Sea, more and more Filipinos will experience bullying in their own territories, Alejano said.

“Filipino fishermen are being prevented from fishing in our own waters. Even, the Philippine military was also not spared of intimidation during patrol missions. The harassment of Chinese forces is becoming a norm, especially with the silence of the Duterte administration and its pro-China stance,” he said.

"If indeed diplomatic ties between the Philippines and China are warmer this time, I hope our government will seize every opportunity to protect our people and fight for our rights over our territory. Hindi dapat mahigitan ng kahit anong loan o infrastructure agreement ang kahalagahan ng seguridad ng ating mga kababayan at ng bansa,” he added.

During his state visit, Xi and President Rodrigo Duterte witnessed the signing of 29 agreements between China and the Philippines, including a Memorandum of Understanding on the joint exploration between the two countries in the West Philippine Sea. — Erwin Colcol/BM, GMA News

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