DFA chief on South China Sea protest: We’ll do it quietly

MANILA, Philippines — Trust your government.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday asked members of the House of Representatives to trust the foreign policy of President Duterte with regard to China, assuring them that the government is doing its job through diplomatic means without fanfare.

“We are not asking you to trust us blindly. We have been filing diplomatic protests, but our critics want us to shout loudly,” Cayetano said, addressing Rep. Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list.

“Nanggaling tayo sa past administration na walang fishing, na pag nagsu-supply tayo sa Ayungin nagpapatintero tayo. Ngayon puwede na (We came from the previous administration when we couldn’t even fish, and when we re-supplied our troops in Ayungin Shoal, we had to dodge. Now we are able to…) because we did it quietly, the situation improved,” Cayetano told the former Philippine Marine Corps captain.

“We’re not saying it’s perfect. But we are not doing it like the (former president Benigno Aquino III) or (acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio) way na through media at sigawan (shouting). We are doing it through diplomacy,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) chief said in a briefing held for the House special committee on the West Philippine Sea.

Former House speaker and now Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. heads the panel.

“We have to erase doubts from the members of Congress that we are not doing anything. It’s not true that we are the ones who are always nakikiusap (asking favors) to China,” the former Taguig congressman and senator stressed.

“As the President said, we are not slaves to anyone,” Cayetano told Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, who was among the legislators present, and who asked if it was right to “fight for what is ours.”

“Tama po. Pero walang (That’s correct. But there’s no) enforcement mechanism. It’s as if there’s no sheriff,” Cayetano explained.

“We are protecting the gains of the past, rectifying the mistakes, protecting our national territory and pursuing our sovereign rights to the fullest. This we are doing in a manner where we do not lose our soul in the process,” the DFA chief reassured the House members.

“Yes, we have differences with (China), but we have made gains. We are not willing to do the Aquino approach. It would be against our national interest to return to that,” he said, referring to Aquino’s vocal stance on the issue.

Cayetano lamented that what has been coming out in mainstream media, and in practically all platforms, “are mere highlights that do not necessarily reflect the entirety of the President’s statement.” – With Alexis Romero, Jaime Laude

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