Join rallies vs China, Gazmin dared

MANILA, Philippines—Makabayan bloc lawmakers have dared Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to join their group’s anti-China demonstrations after he chided activists for keeping mum on China’s claiming of islands inside Philippine territory.

Gazmin had said they were being clamorous against the United States.

“Bayan Muna has publicly criticized China through rallies and public statements, and  even led the recent Congress investigation into China’s incursions into our territories…while General Gazmin has not even attended an anti-China rally,” said Senior Deputy Minority Leader Neri Colmenares in response to Gazmin’s “verbal attack” against his group.

“There is no need for Bayan Muna to prove its nationalism as its track record of defending Filipino interests against foreign impositions, whether from the US, Japan or China, is unquestionable,” he countered.

Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said several activist groups had been consistently protesting China’s position on the West Philippine Sea, particularly its strong-arm tactics at Ayungin and Panatag Shoals. He said his group had advocated a clear diplomatic assertion of sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, independent of China and the United States.

“Secretary Gazmin should not play the China card to justify the surrender of sovereignty in the new access agreement with the United States,” said Ridon.

Gazmin had said:  “Our problem is we keep on complaining [about] the Enhanced Defense Cooperation (with the US). Why don’t we complain when the Chinese [used] water [cannons] on us? Why? Nasaan ang pagka-Pilipino natin (Where is our Filipino spirit)? We demonstrate against those who are helping us but we don’t demonstrate against those who are bullying us.”

But Colmenares said Gazmin must have been misinformed as the first in a series of rallies led by Bayan Muna against China’s illegal incursions into the country’s territory was held back on April 20, 2012.

Even earlier in  2006, Colmenares said  Bayan Muna had protested China’s increasing interest in the country when it filed a case in the Supreme Court questioning the legality of China’s and the Philippines’ joint exploration of the Spratlys under the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU),  which it dubbed as “treason.”

“Unlike General Gazmin and President Aquino, we opposed not only the JMSU but also corruption-ridden Chinese projects such as the NBN-ZTE deal and the NorthRail project,” Colmenares said.

Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio questioned Gazmin’s silence on the  “longstanding and widespread violation of Philippine sovereignty by US military forces on our own soil.”

“The US is the worst violator of Philippine sovereignty and biggest threat to regional peace and security,” said Tinio.

He said it was the US military’s build-up against China, specifically the Enhanced Defense Cooperation under negotiation with the Aquino administration, that has been fanning tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Colmenares agreed that the US remained the “main threat” to the Asia Pacific region. “This can be seen in its invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. The US wants political and economic hegemony in Asia, including our oil rich territories, and is merely using the Spratlys issue to justify its intervention and pivot to Asia,” he said.