Charles Teves
Netizens perceived Duterte as China’s “lapdog” or a “puppet.”
Philippines vessels in the West Philippine Sea will not go anywhere despite the tension with China, said President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, May 14.
https://twitter.com/f_pura/status/1393224651589898245?s=20
Si duterte lang may malaking utang na loob sa tsina!
Utang nya presidency nya kaya puppet sya ng tsina!— teng (@tengnov) May 14, 2021
A more heated disagreement will not happen because of the Philippines’ “debt of gratitude” to China.
“We have a stand here and I want to state it here and now again. Na yung mga barko natin nandyan ngayon sa Pag-asa at saan pa, we will not move an inch backward,” Duterte said in a taped speech.
He hoped that China would understand that they can’t just do a hostile takeover.
“Ayoko makipagaway nga sa China. Inuulit ko, may utang na loob kami. Malaki, malaki ang utang na loob. Buhay ang tinulong nya sa amin. Pero yung ano naman ng bayan namin, sana maintindihan ninyo.”
His decision is ‘what’s supposed to be done by any President of any self-respecting Republic,’ according to him.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in the same briefing said vessels are currently stationed at the Kalayaan Island Group.
“I’d like to put notice on China. May dalawang barko ako dyan…Sabihin ko sa China ngayon, as I said before, I am not ready to withdraw, I don’t want a quarrel, I don’t want trouble, I respect your position, and you respect mine,” Duterte said.
He admitted that when it comes to “might and power” the Philippines is “inferior.”
Duterte also said that he is willing to die for his country.
“Ngayon, hindi talaga ako aatras. Patayin mo man ako, dito ako. Dito magtapos ang ating pagkakaibigan.”
Filipinos found it hard to believe that they owe China a “debt of gratitude,” most especially the way it is “bullying” the Philippines.
Hahaha…tuta…tuta…aw…aw…aw…#DuterteTutaNgChina
— ⭐🎄🇵🇭PinoySanta🇵🇭🎄⭐ (@PinoySanta) May 11, 2021
Wala tayong utang na loob! Utang na loob!😖 Kung meron man, bayad na bayad tayo! Sobra sobra pa!
Sila ang may utang na loob dahil sila ang nagdala ng virus sa buong mundo, dapat nga managot sila doon. Dahil hindi nila sinabi ng maaga!
— Heart Inspiration (@heartcaptiv8r) May 11, 2021
Just to make it clear: The Philippines as a country has NO "debt of gratitude" to China. Only Duterte, his family, and his sarap-buhay alipores have such debt of gratitude.
— The Consultant (@AgnewRo) May 14, 2021
Netizens believed that the Duterte family benefited from China in some way.
siya, si duterte malaki ang utang na loob sa china. daming kaibigang chinese sina polong. mga pinagsususpetsahan sa drug trade. #ImpeachDuterte #DuterteTraydor
— PinoyAko (@pinoysiwowie) May 15, 2021
https://twitter.com/reyes_caloy/status/1393383859274780673?s=20
https://twitter.com/puloy60/status/1393162070401507331?s=20
