Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Monday dared Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to resign amid his alleged “inaction against Chinese incursions and subservience to China’s interests.”
The opposition lawmaker lambasted the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for failing to file any diplomatic protest despite China’s continued “incursions and illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea.”
“Maka-ilang ulit nang nilalabag ng China ang ating karapatan sa ating mga teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea ngunit ni isang diplomatic protest ay wala tayong narinig mula sa DFA sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Secretary Cayetano,” Alejano said in a statement.
“Has our own government already been compromised by China? Is Secretary Cayetano still the Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary or was he already anointed as China’s liaison for the West Philippine Sea issue?” he asked.
Alejano pointed out that in recent months, China has upped its militarization efforts in the South China Sea by installing a missile system in the Spratly Islands and deploying aircraft bombers in the Paracel Islands and China has also built a monument in the South China Sea “as if to celebrate its reclamation activities in the region.”
INQUIRER.net sought the Foreign Affairs chief for comment but he has yet to reply as of posting time.
READ: China warships, planes sighted at PH-claimed reefs since 2017
Alejano pointed out that the filing of a diplomatic protest is like “putting on record our stand on the matter,” while its absence, “would mean acquiescence.”
“Maliban na lamang kung talagang ibinenta at isinuko na ng administrasyong Duterte ang Pilipinas sa China. If the latter is the case, then Secretary Cayetano’s direction for the DFA is no longer carrying Philippine interests,” Alejano lamented.
“Kung hindi rin lang interes ng Pilipinas ang dala ni Secretary Cayetano, mas mabuting magbitiw na lamang siya sa pwesto kaysa hinahayaang sakupin tayo ng China,” he added.
The Magdalo has likewise reiterated his call to file a diplomatic protest against China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea.
“I strongly demand the DFA to file a diplomatic protest against China’s aggressive and illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea. Wala namang dapat ipag-alala o ikatakot ang DFA sa ganitong hakbang,” he said.
“Precisely as the name suggests, filing of a diplomatic protest is the basic diplomatic course also employed by other states. This does not mean we are encouraging a shouting match, nor waging a war,” he continued. /vvp