Anti-China rally is getting bigger, bolder.
MANILA, Philippines — “Atin and Pinas! China, layas!” (Philippines is ours! China, get out!)
This was the resounding chant of hundreds of protesters who rallied in front of the Chinese Embassy in Makati during the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor). Participants of the march have asserted the Philippines’ territorial rights over the disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea.
Protesters waved small Philippine flags and displayed banners denouncing the alleged “incursions” of China in the West Philippine Sea and the alleged disadvantageous loan agreements between the Philippines and China.
LOOK: Various groups converge ahead of a protest march towards the Chinese consulate in Makati to defend Philippine sovereignty | @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/b9hVpqVcIp
— Christia Ramos (@christiaramos_) April 9, 2019
“We recall the sacrifices and heroism of Filipinos who fought foreign invaders in the Fall of Bataan,” the Pilipinong Nagkakaisa para sa Soberanya (P1NAS) said in a press statement.
INQUIRER.net photo / Cathy Miranda
“We reaffirm the need to defend Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and territorial integrity against [any] foreign occupation and intervention,” the organization added.
Challenging the Duterte administration
Speaking before a large number of people who trooped in front of the Chinese Embassy, Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares dared President Rodrigo Duterte to be a nationalistic leader given China’s reported presence over the West Philippine Sea.
READ: Analyst: China maritime militia near Pag-asa threatens PH sea, air access
“Mr. Duterte, ang kailangan natin ngayon na lider ay hindi macho. Ang kailangan natin isang makabayang leader: matapang na igiit ang ating kasarinlan, ang ating teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.
(Mr. Duterte, what we need now is not a leader who displays a lot of masculinity. What we need is a patriotic leader: courageous enough to assert our sovereignty, our own territory in the West Philippine Sea.)
Meanwhile, opposition senatorial candidate Chel Diokno mocked the President for his failure to fulfill his campaign promise that he would ride a personal watercraft (jet ski) to the Spratly Islands and plant a Philippine flag there.
“Kahapon po nagpunta ako ng Masinloc, Zambales para ihanda ang jet ski ni Duterte, hindi naman siya dumating. Kaya kami na lang, ako na lang. Tayong lahat ang magjejet-ski sa Panatag Shoal,” Diokno said.
(Yesterday, I went to Masinloc, Zambales to ready Duterte’s jet ski, but he did not come. That is why we, I, all of us decided to just do the jet skiing to Panatag Shoal.)
“O kung gusto niya, ayaw niya ng jet ski, ibibigay ko na lang yung salbabida ko, basta pumunta siya ng Panatag Shoal,” he added.
(Or, if he wants, I’ll just give him my lifebuoy just for him to proceed to Panatag Shoal.)
The human rights lawyer further added that it is time for Filipinos to take a stand and assert the Philippines’ territorial rights.
“Panahon na para manindigan na tayo. Panahon na para ipaalam natin kay Duterte at diyan sa Tsina na yan na atin ito. Ang Pilipinas ay para sa mga Pilipino,” he added.
(It is time for us to make a stand. It is time to let Duterte and China know that it is ours. The Philippines is for the Filipinos.)
The Southern Police District estimated that about 500 protesters joined the Makati mass action composed mostly of members of various progressive groups such as Anakpawis, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Kabataan Partylist, Karapatan, Gabriela, and Anakbayan among others. /jpv/ac