Deafening silence vs China? Sara Duterte says she’s ‘pro-Philippines’

Vice President Sara Duterte has shrugged off allegations of House Deputy Majority Leader Francisco Paolo Ortega V that she is mum on the illegal activities of China on Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea.

“Hindi ba obvious na nandito ako sa Pilipinas upang ikampanya ang mga kandidato para sa ating bansa? So, of course I am pro-Philippines and nothing else,” Duterte said in Bisaya in an interview in Kidapawan City on Tuesday.

(Isn't it obvious that I’m here in the Philippines to campaign for candidates for the sake of our country? So, of course I am pro-Philippines and nothing else.)

The Vice President was reacting to a statement of Ortega who said that Duterte had seemingly shown a “deafening silence” amid China’s claims that it had seized the Sandy Cay, which is located approximately two nautical miles away from Pag-asa Island.

The La Union lawmaker asked Duterte where her loyalty really lies—whether to China or the Philippines.

“She’s been going around hitting almost everybody, but never China! Apparently, mum is the word when it comes to Beijing. She’s dead silent when the issue about China occupying our very own yard is raised. Silent as the grave with zipped and sealed lips – very much unlike her,” Ortega said in a statement.

Duterte, in response, said, “Of course, bakit ko naman atakihin ang Tsina sa ating kampanya dito sa Pilipinas? Ang problema natin dito ay ang hindi pagtupad sa mga pangako tulad nalang ng P20 per kilo na bigas.”

(Of course, why would I attack China during our campaign here in the Philippines? Our problem here is the government’s failure to fulfill promises such as the P20 per kilo of rice.)

Just like Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong, Duterte further alleged that Ortega is also a “product of warlordism” in the country.

“So dapat lang na mag-adopt din siya ng deafening silence dahil wala siyang karapatan na buksan ang kanyang bibig,” she added.

(He should also adopt a deafening silence because he has no right to open his mouth.)

Ortega has insisted that it is incumbent upon elected officials to defend the Philippines from any form of aggression or incursions from other countries like China.

“If we cannot count on VP Sara to defend us from foreign colony, then who will?” he asked.

Last week, Philippine authorities raised the country's flag on Sandy Cay, debunking China’s claims that it had seized the area.

China is calling the Sandy Cay as Tiexian Reef, claiming it as part of the South China Sea.

The Philippine Navy had also denied China’s claim that it has occupied Sandy Cay, saying that it is meant to divert the attention of the public amid allegations of Chinese spies and an alleged troll farm hired by the Chinese Embassy in Manila in 2023.—AOL, GMA Integrated News