Pimentel: Let’s not be afraid of China; Colmenares: Let’s not allow China to exploit us

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said the Filipino people should not be afraid of China amid the signing of the memorandum of understanding on oil and gas joint exploration between the two governments.

“Huwag tayong matakot sa China, huwag tayong matakot sa East kasi ang Pilipinas nasa East po tayo. These are our neighbors. Marami tayong shared values sa kanila. Let us focus on the constitutionality and the legality,”  Pimentel said during Debate 2019, the GMA senatorial face-off aired Saturday evening.

What is important is that the exploration has the consent of the Philippine government, he said.

“Huwag tayong maging alarmist na nakatingin tayo kung sino ang ka-joint exploration natin. Ang importante  kung ang  exploration ay nasa Philippine territory o nasa ating EEZ (exclusive economic zone) ay merong permission, consent of the Republic of the Philippines,” he said.

“Ngayon maraming nagsasabi na China ‘yan. Pagkapalitan natin ng America ‘yan, wala na bang issue? Just because Western power wala nang issue?” he asked.

Pimentel also said that the actual exploration or drilling will take time as the agreement is only for negotiation and exploring possibilities.

Diosdado Peralta, running under Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, who is also in favor of the joint exploration, said the fact that China entered into an understanding with the Philippines proves that it recognizes the ruling of the Arbitral Court.

“Ang usapin kung tayo ay nanalo ay tapos na po. Actually meron na nga pong desisyon na tayo ang nanalo. Sa katotohanan po ang pakikipagkontrata ng Tsina sa Pilipinas sa pagkakaroon ng joint exploration ay tunay na pagkilala na tayo ay may karapatan sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.

Peralta added the government should take advantage of this as it will help the country’s economy.

But former Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares said the main issue is if it is correct to allow China to explore the country when it does not recognize the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated Beijing’s excessive claims in the South China Sea.

“Ang issue talaga dito ay kung hayaan natin ang panghihimasok ng Tsina sa mga teritoryo natin. Whether nage-explore sila, whether nagdi-drill sila, hindi nila nirerespeto ang ating sovereign rights at ang panalo natin sa tribunal,” he said.

“Millions of gallons of oil are in the South China Sea, at least 1.3 trillion cubic meters ang natural gas, hindi po natin dapat hayaan na mawala ito sa atin at ma-deprive ang next generation ng resources na makakatulong sa atin,” he added.

He said the government should insist on its sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea just like what Vietnam and Thailand did.

“Ang Vietnam, ang Taiwan iginigiit nila ang sovereign rights nila sa South China Sea. Naniniwala sila na hindi sila pwedeng lusubin ng China dahil kakalabanin ng Tsina ang international community pag ginawa nila ‘yun,” he said.

“Tayo ang nanalo sa Tribunal bakit asta tayong talo. Dapat igiit natin ang ating teritoryo. Hindi tayo maka-Amerikano, hindi tayo maka-Tsino, tayo ay maka-Filipino,” Colmenares insisted.

He asked Padilla if he thinks China should be trusted on joint exploration, to which the latter replied that the agreement between the two countries would be binding and the Filipino people should guard if Beijing would indeed follow it.

“Kung meron tayong kasunduan ay siya pong magiging batas sa pagitan ng Tsina at ng Pilipinas. So ang babantayan natin ‘yung kasunduan na ‘yun kung susundin ng Tsina,” said Padilla.

Padilla asked Pimentel how the Filipino people would be sure that China would be true and transparent in the dealing.

The senator said the relationship between the Philippines and China is a guarantee.

“Maganda at at the golden age ang Philippine-China relations ngayon sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni President Duterte. Of course with freedom of information, ang importante ‘yung terms ng agreement, ilabas para maaral natin, huwag tayong matakot sa ating kausap, let us look at the terms of agreement and ensure it is constitutional and legal,” he said. —LDF, GMA News