Makabayan solons to Duterte: Philippines doesn't owe debt of gratitude to China

Members of the Makabayan Bloc on Thursday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for saying that the Philippines owes China a huge debt of gratitude.

At a virtual press conference, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite said it is Duterte who has a debt of gratitude to China, not the Philippines.

"Katrayduran nga ang ginawa ni Pangulong Duterte sa West Philippine Sea. Siya lang ang may utang na loob sa China, hindi ang taongbayan dahil marami siyang pakinabang, in terms probably ng utang," Gaite said.

(What President Duterte did is traitorous. It is him who owes a huge debt of gratitude to China, not the Filipinos, because of the privileges he obtained, as regards his ties to the country, including the loans.)

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, for her part, said it is China that owes the Philippines because it continues its incursions even in the area where the Philippines has territorial rights.

She said Duterte should disclose its agreement with China regarding the COVID-19 vaccines Beijing donated to the country.

"Wala tayong utang na loob sa China. Actually 'yung China pa 'yung dapat na magbayad sa atin dahil sa pagpasok nito sa exclusive economic zone ng Pilipinas na kung saan Pilipino lamang ang dapat mag-fish," Castro said.

(We don't owe a huge debt of gratitude to China. In fact, China should pay the Philippines because of its entry in our exclusive economic zone where only Filipino fishermen should fish.)

"Parang ipinagpapalit ni Pangulong Duterte ang bakuna sa ating soberanya. There is something fishy here. Kailangang ibukas ni President Duterte 'yung naging usapan nila ng China kaugnay ng mga donasyon sa bakuna," she added.

(It seems that President Duterte bartered our sovereignty for Chinese vaccines. He should be transparent with his deal with China regarding the donated vaccines.)

Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago stressed that the Philippines' sovereign rights in the region could not be bartered with COVID-19 vaccines.

"Sa pagitan ng bakuna at soberanya, hindi naman makakapili lang ng isa. Hindi puwedeng ipagpalit ang soberanya sa bakuna. Huwag nating hayaan na pagbayaran ng ating pambansang soberanya ang kapalpakan, ang kapabayaan ng Duterte administration pagdating sa pagkanti para sa West Philippine Sea," Elago said.

(We cannot barter sovereignty with vaccines. We should not let our sovereignty be used to pay for the inefficiency of the Duterte administration as regards addressing territorial issues in the West Philippine Sea.)

During his public address on Wednesday night, Duterte said he would not wage war against China despite its incursions in the West Philippine Sea because the Philippines owes it a huge debt of gratitude.

The President mentioned China's donation of Sinovac vaccines against COVID-19. This was the first vaccine used by the country when it started its vaccination program in March.

"China is a good friend, mayroon tayong utang na loob na marami, pati na 'yung bakuna natin. So China, let it be known China is a good friend and we don’t want trouble with them especially with war," Duterte said.

(China is a good friend, we owe them a huge debt of gratitude, including our vaccines.)

Duterte said authorities would observe first China's actions within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

Reports stated that Chinese vessels continue to occupy islands covering the Philippines exclusive economic zone. —KBK, GMA News