Hontiveros wants to see the ‘50 to 100’ diplomatic protests filed by DFA vs. China

Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution seeking a foreign policy audit to scrutinize and review the diplomatic protests supposedly lodged by the Department of Foreign Affairs against China in connection with the West Philippine Sea incidents.

"I challenge the DFA to bare its so-called 50 to 100 diplomatic protests against China, which the Foreign Affairs Secretary (Alan Peter Cayetano) claims to have lodged. The people have the right to be informed. Present proof, or they didn’t happen,” Hontiveros said in a press statement on Wednesday.

She was referring to Cayetano's declaration last May that the Philippines has filed “several dozens, maybe 50 to 100” diplomatic protests against the China for its incursions in disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea.

However, when pressed to explain further and to identify these protests, Cayetano refused to elaborate.

Hontiveros said in Senate Resolution No. 786 that what is of public record is only the note verbale filed by the Philippines to protest China’s installation of missile systems on three man-made islands in the Spratly Islands and the harassment by the Chinese Navy of the Philippine Navy boats resupplying troops in Ayungin Shoal.

The resolution states that despite repeated entreaties by foreign policy experts to disclose the diplomatic protests and put them on public record, the Duterte administration has refused to reveal detains, insisting that a diplomatic approach and a mutual cooperation framework would be in the best interest of the country.

It further states that in the meantime, that Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea continues unabated, putting livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk at risk and violating the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling in favor of the Philippines.

Hontiveros said that while diplomatic secrets do not need to be disclosed in minute detail, there is value in informing the public of diplomatic protests lodged by the government, and this can help pressure foreign governments to conform to international commitments and norms.

"How about the 99 other diplomatic protests? Are they even real? If so, what is the nature of these diplomatic actions? What platforms and channels were used? Were they compliant with the spirit of the Hague ruling? When were they filed? What was the response of China?" she said. — BM, GMA News