Kiko, Leila score Duterte for 'cowardice' in SONA amid China aggression

Opposition senators on Tuesday denounced President Rodrigo Duterte's position during his 5th State of the Nation Address that he could do nothing about China's overlapping claims with the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Duterte made the remark in his speech before Congress four years after an arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled to invalidate China's claims in areas with the Philippines exclusive economic zone as provided by the United Nations Conventions on the Lw of the Sea.

Opposition Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said Duterte's apparent surrender was "detestable" and "unacceptable."

"He does not speak for me and many other Filipinos who see in this defeatist attitude cowardice towards the aggressor," Pangilinan said in a message.

Detained Senator Leila De Lima said the remarks of the President could have a legal bearing on the international ruling that already invalidated China's massive claim in the South China Sea.

"Maling-mali rin ang pagbanggit niya, na China is 'in possession' of the disputed territories, isang pag-amin na may matinding implikasyon sa ilalim ng batas. Tayo na nga ang nanalo sa kaso natin laban sa China, tayo ngayon ang umuurong. Hindi lang ito kaduwagan, kundi katraydoran!" De Lima said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, chair of the committee on national defense, stressed that the country is not inutile and its strength lies on the rule of law.

Citing Sun Tzu's Art of War, he said: "Being weak is weakness enough but to let our adversary know how helpless we are will discourage even our allies to stand by our side."

Duterte in his national address said that China was "in possession" of the Philippines' claims but the country was not militarily equipped to go to war.

"China is claiming it, we are claiming it. China has the arms, we do not have it. So, it’s simple as that, they are in possession of the property," Duterte said.

"We have to go to war. And I cannot afford it. Maybe some other president can but I cannot. Inutil ako dyan, sabihin ko sa inyo, and we are willing to admit it," he added.

Diplomatic efforts

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto maintained his stance that the country's legal rights over the West Philippine Sea must be asserted diplomatically.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also said the Philippines can effectively protect its territorial waters without resorting to war.

"I’d like to think that given the geo-political situations, presenting our case before world opinion is something that we can do," he said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

"Yes, we cannot confront them militarily and I am not in favor of that. But there are other ways of espousing for the cause of a country without resorting to arms. The other countries are able to do it," he added.

Senator Sonny Angara said Duterte's remarks were not surprising.

"We already knew from the start he leaned towards China and wants a non-confrontational stance," he said.

'Alter ego'

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto said he believed that despite Duterte's "inutile" description of himself, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. would not let the country's guard down.

"The number one alter ego of the President as far as this issue is concerned is Sec. Teddy Boy Locsin and Sec Locsin will not allow us to be trampled upon by anyone, not even China or the United States or any other country," Sotto told reporters in a virtual interview.

"I am confident that we will stand our ground as far as the issue of the WPS or South China Sea is concerned, lalo na lately na naglabas ng statement ang US backing up our position, backing up the position of the DFA. Okay na 'yun that is good enough," he added.

Earlier this month, Locsin urged China to comply and recognize the country's claims in the West Philippine Sea as the ruling of the international court in The Hague, Netherlands in favor of the Philippines marked its fourth anniversary.

China, however, continued to reject the decision, calling it "illegal and invalid."

The United States expressed solidarity with Southeast Asian nations who involved with territorial disputes with China.

A recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations showed that seven out of 10 Filipinos believe the Philippine government must assert its rights over the disputed islands in the South China Sea. -NB, GMA News