Senatorial aspirant Freddie Aguilar on West PHL Sea issue: China has no history of occupying lands

Musician and former presidential adviser on arts and culture Freddie Aguilar on Monday said China has no history of occupying lands when asked about his stand on the West Philippine Sea.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV's Ikaw Na Ba? series of senatorial interviews, Aguilar said that he is not bothered with the Philippines' current close relationship with Beijing.

LIVE sa DZBB: Sa “#IkawNaBa? The Senatorial Interview 2019,” ating kikilalanin at kikilatisin ang musician na si Freddie Aguilar at Magdalo Party-list Rep. @GaryAlejano.

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"Ang maganda po sa China, wala po silang record ng pangangamkam ng lupa na may lupa," he said. "So hindi po ako natatakot sa Chinese."

Citing history, Aguilar said the Chinese people have been conducting business with Filipinos even before the Spaniards came in the country.

According to him, there is no hostility recorded in the history of Philippine-China relationship.

Aguilar's fellow senatorial aspirant, Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano, meanwhile debunked Aguilar's claims.

"Walang history ang China na pananakop? Itong pagkukuha ng  ating Scarborough Shoal at ating Spratlys, yan ang history, yan ang pananakop sa atin," Alejano said during the same interview.

Alejano said he is not urging the government to cut ties with China but simply wants it to uphold its independence especially amid the territorial dispute involving portions of the vast South China Sea. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News