Sen. Panfilo Lacson. (File photo by JAM STA. ROSA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — If the Philippines is too weak to go to war with China, don’t “advertise” it.
Senator Panfilo Lacson gave this advice on Wednesday as he expressed alarm over the reported presence of hundreds of Chinese vessels in some Philippine-occupied islands in the West Philippine Sea.
“Whether it’s 600, 275, 200, 100, the fact that there are Chinese vessels na mga militia, not even fishermen, ano ini-indicate noon? he said in an interview over CNN Philippines.
“Tapos sabihin nating hindi tayo pwede makipag giyera sa China, isang missile lang tapos na tayo. Kung ganoon din lang, pasakop na tayo, di ba?”
“Those are information that are better kept to ourselves. Huwag mo na i-advertise na di namin kayo kaya labanan,” the senator added.
Lacson nevertheless admitted that the presence of Chinese vessels in Philippine territory was alarming.
“It is alarming kasi militia nga,” he said.
This “alarming situation,” he said, might prompt the Senate to pass a resolution to call out either the President or the executive branch.
“Let’s not blame the Senate. Let’s not blame the senators kung may ganitong incidents na nangyayari sa West Philippine Sea. We’re too friendly but we’re too accommodating,” Lacson said.
“And we’re expressing pa na we’re helpless. For me, alam mo nang mahina ka, huwag mo ipagsigawang mahina kasi lalo kang ibu-bully,” he added. /cbb