MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. agreed Monday to disclose to the Senate the responses of China to the many diplomatic protests the Philippines has filed against Beijing.
During the hearing of the Senate committee on foreign affairs, Senate Minority Franklin Drilon asked Locsin if he could share the said information with the public and the panel.
“Let me ask my department. As far as I’m concerned, it’s fine,” Locsin said, though noting the “diplomatic practice that it be kept secret.”
“But I know that even in the United States the deeper secrets of national security are shared with the Senate,” he added.
So when Drilon asked anew if he could share the information to the public or the committee, Locsin said: “I don’t know about the public, definitely with the committee. And it will be done.”
Just this morning, Locsin ordered the filing of another diplomatic protest against China over the recent reported sightings of five Chinese warships in Sibutu Strait since July.
“@DFAPHL fire diplomatic protest over Chinese warship; drop the diplomatic crap; say it is ours period; they’re trespassing,” he said on Twitter.
“If we did it already fire another. We won’t run out. & don’t wait for formal intel. This is the Secretary of National Defense no less. Fire at will,” the Secretary added.
READ: DFA chief: File diplomatic protest over Chinese warships’ intrusion
Also during the hearing, Locsin reiterated his pronouncement that the Philippines will never give up an inch of its territory.
READ: PH not giving up ‘an inch’ of territory, an ‘iota of sovereignty’ to China—DFA
/kga