Andronico Del Rosario
The Duterte administration’s allegiance has once again come into question after netizens noticed how naval law enforcement can go after Southeast Asian boats—but not Chinese boats.
Earlier today, the Philippine Marines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were able to apprehend a Vietnamese fishing boat off the coast of Tawi-Tawi for illegal fishing.
The Philippine Marines with the Philippine National Police apprehend a Vietnamese fishing boat illegally operating in Tawi-Tawi. Authorities impounded the vessel. | via @chiarazambrano pic.twitter.com/dGY5l329uK
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) March 25, 2021
The vessel got impounded. The scenario may have gone under the radar had it not been for the presence of some 200 Chinese ‘fishing vessels’ anchored on Julian Felipe Reef.
Netizens noticed how the Marines and naval law enforcement were quick to apprehend a vessel from a Southeast Asian nation but have not even made any move to contest those Chinese vessels on the coast of Palawan.
'Yung Chinese vessels sa Julian Felipe Reef, hulihin n'yo rin, itaboy, pag ayaw umalis, pasabugin.
Hindi 'yung mga pobreng Vietnamese fishermen ang inaatupag n'yo. https://t.co/DSjO7SEjjG
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) March 25, 2021
Vietnamese lng tlga kaya nyo. https://t.co/E9O14ukCaB
— hopiamaniquen (@wengwengphi) March 25, 2021
Pero sa Chinese vessel? nganger? https://t.co/AikHGmjpLc
— Joemar (@marcualwanders) March 25, 2021
A Netizen even called for President Rodrigo Duterte’s resignation after his failure to drive off the ships from Philippine waters.
Duterte should resign if he cannot get the Chinese vessels out of the Julian Felipe reef.
— Fratello (@papalbadass) March 24, 2021
Even ABS-CBN News journalist Chiara Zambrano, who broke the story on the recent naval arrest, could not help but questioned the government’s motives.
Much of the 1M vaccines donated went to the PH Defense Department & military. Rollout plans show China will be the Philippines’ biggest supplier of vaccines.
How will the government ably respond to the incursion in the Julian Felipe Reef with this mounting debt of gratitude? https://t.co/EnX8KxMFIO
— Chiara Zambrano (@chiarazambrano) March 24, 2021
“Much of the one million vaccines donated [by China] went to the Department of Defense and the military… how will the government ably respond to the incursion in Julian Felipe Reef with this mounting debt of gratitude,” she tweeted.
To date, China will be the biggest supplier of vaccines to the Philippines with vaccines from western pharmaceuticals like Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca only available via the COVAX facility.
The situation has gotten to a point where legislators are also raising questions about the executive’s allegiance, with the Makabayan bloc making the first move.
LOOK: The Makabayan bloc filed House Resolution 1675 to condemn and probe the presence Chinese vessels in the vicinity of Julian Felipe Reef | via @RG_Cruz12479 https://t.co/lAraazVxJQ
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) March 25, 2021
The Makabayan bloc earlier filed House Resolution 1675, urging the House of Representatives to look into the still-present platoon of Chinese fishing vessels in Julian Felipe Reef.
“The reef is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, which the Philippines has exclusive right to use resources… according to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.”
Prior to the Marines apprehending the Vietnamese vessel, Duterte has gone on record to say he has spoken to the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian about the issue.
President Duterte brings up the presence of 220 Chinese ships near Julian Felipe Reef during a social call with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian. https://t.co/eDCWGR2sWD
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 25, 2021
However, even such has been questioned by Netizens, knowing how Duterte usually defers to Beijing on matters concerning the West Philippine Sea.
https://twitter.com/ping2faith/status/1374971600366301187
As for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), its chief, Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, has already ordered the deployment of additional Navy ships to increase maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea.
AFP Chief Gen Cirilito Sobejana orders the deployment of additional Navy ships to beef up maritime sovereignty patrols in the WPS.
Note: He gave the same order months ago in response to the China Coast Guard Law authorizing them to fire upon any vessel when necessary @ABSCBNNews
— Chiara Zambrano (@chiarazambrano) March 25, 2021
Sobejana said sending ships to Julian Felipe Reef may be seen as antagonistic and trigger China to send its own more powerful Navy.
However the AFP has said they cannot deploy their Navy ships to Julian Felipe Reef because maritime militia ships are considered civilian in nature. To send a warship, the AFP says, could be seen as antagonistic and trigger China to send its own more powerful Navy @ABSCBNNews
— Chiara Zambrano (@chiarazambrano) March 25, 2021
AFP has also received a message from China’s People’s Liberation Army, which stated that Beijing assured the Philippines that the vessels in Julian Felipe Reef are militia-free and that they were merely seeking shelter from “inclement weather.”
“China’s People’s Liberation Army representatives reiterated their government’s assurance that those ships were not manned by militia and that those were constrained to seek shelter in the area when inclement weather hampered their fishing activity,” AFP said | @chiarazambrano
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) March 25, 2021
However, this got questioned as the ships are still there for two weeks since the Philippine Coast Guard saw the platoon on March 7.
