JV Ejercito urges agencies to look into Manila Bay dredging, Chinese actions outside WPS

Senator JV Ejercito urged government agencies to conduct a probe into operations possibly being conducted by Chinese agents, not just in the West Philippine Sea, but elsewhere in the country.

In an interview on Wednesday, Ejercito asked why there is apparently still no action regarding the  submersible drones allegedly deployed by China over the West Philippine Sea despite hearings into the matter.

“We have had two or three hearings already on these submersible drones on West Philippine Sea or maritime zones… Ito mga spies, pero parang napapansin ko sa mga ahensya parang wala silang aksyon. Pagkatapos ng hearing, sasagot pero pagkatapos parang wala silang aksyon,” he said.

(We have had spies, but I’ve noticed our agencies have not been doing any action. After the hearing, they would answer but afterwards they had no action.)

The senator claimed that there was a focus on pursuing Chinese businessmen working in the country illegally over rectifying issues of national security by tackling Chinese spies.

He cited dredging operations in Manila Bay and alleged Chinese spies interfering with the 2025 elections as points of concern beyond matters in the West Philippine Sea.

“I asked the Bureau of Immigration and other law agencies kung ano yung naging action nila, [along with] DFA, na nakatatlong hearing na yata ito tungkol sa spies and maritime [operations]… What was their action? Sabi ko nga, tingin tayo nang tingin sa West Philippine Sea [pero] itong mga dredging operations dito sa Manila Bay ba, tinitignan po nila yan?” he said.

(I asked the Bureau of Immigration and other law agencies what their actions were, along with DFA, since there had already been three hearings about spies and maritime [operations]… What was their action? Like I said, we keep on looking at the West Philippine Sea [but] are they looking into the dredging operations in Manila Bay?)

“Mas inuuna nila ang Chinese businessmen puntiryahin kaysa sa mga spies na pinlanta ng China rito sa atin.  Parang hindi ko alam, anong rason? Mas importante ba itong Chinese businessmen with illegal papers against people, against issues of national security?  Baka mamaya magising tayo, nandiyan sila sa Manila Bay, nandito sila sa daungan. Nandiyan sila.”

(They are prioritizing on looking into these Chinese businessmen instead of spies planted by China here. I don’t know what the reason is. Are these Chinese businessmen with illegal papers against people more important against issues of national security? Maybe we’ll wake up one day and they’re already at the docks of Manila Bay. They would already be here.)

“We're looking at West Philippine Sea but there are more than 100 ships that are conducting dredging operations in Manila Bay at hindi malayo na may internal operatives na pinasok sila dyan…  So, sino bang priority nila, Chinese businessmen or these people that might endanger our national security?” he added.

(We're looking at the West Philippine Sea but there are more than 100 ships that are conducting dredging operations in Manila Bay, and it’s possible that they may have sent internal operatives there… So, what is their priority, Chinese businessmen or these people that might endanger our national security?)

Vloggers

Ejercito said that concerns regarding a PR firm allegedly hired by the Chinese embassy must be looked into as an issue of national security.

Ejercito also questioned the presence of pro-China vloggers in the country, and stated that there seemed to be funding behind said content.

“Alam naman natin [ang] survey, more than 80 to 90 percent of the Filipinos galit sa ginagawa ng China, pero pag makikita mo sa social media, meron sila mga pinapain. Parang ang angle nila pag pro-China ka, pro-Filipino ka, anti-China ka, pro-war ka… Pro-US ka, pro-war ka… Yan yung narrative,” he shared.

(We know from [the] survey that more than 80 to 90-percent of the Filipinos are angry at what China is doing, but if you look at social media, they are baiting people. They are angling at pro-China as pro-Filipinos and anti-China as pro-war… Pro-US is pro-war… That is the narrative.)

“We are not pro-war. We are just pro-Filipinos that are defending our sovereignty… pero makikita mo na meron sila mga troll at mga army.  Same yung narrative. Nakita mo binibenta yung narrative ng China. That has to be looked into as well,” he added.

(We are not pro-war. We are just pro-Filipinos that are defending our sovereignty… but you can see that they have trolls and an army. The narrative is the same. You can see them sell the narrative of China. That has to be looked into as well.) — BM, GMA Integrated News