By Brian Campued
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday vowed to continue carrying out his duties and defend the interests of the Philippines, even amid sanctions imposed by China against him and his family.
On Thursday, the Chinese foreign affairs ministry accused Teodoro of having “repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China,” which, it said, undermines Beijing’s “legitimate interests” and affected China-Philippines relations.
Reacting to Beijing’s decision barring him and his immediate family from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao as well as not allowing Chinese firms to engage in any activities with them, Teodoro said imposing the sanctions was within its rights—but noted that such actions were consistent with how China deals with its critics.
“Karapatan nila iyan. Ganoon talaga ang ginagawa nila sa mga nagsasabi ng katotohanan sa panlilinlang nila. Ang mga kababayan nila at ibang nasasakop nila ay mas grabe ang tinatamasa,” the DND chief said in a statement.
“Itutuloy-tuloy ko lang na gagawin ang aking tungkulin at itataguyod ang ating bansa sa harap ng mga kasamaan na ginagawa ng mga ito dito at maging sa karagatan natin,” he added.
Teodoro has consistently criticized China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which lie within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, meanwhile, said they would try to discuss the matter with Chinese authorities.
“Tingin namin, hindi tama ‘yung pag-ban nila kay Secretary Teodoro saka sa kanyang pamilya. However, sovereign right nila ‘yun eh,” Lazaro said in an ambush interview following the Independence Day ceremony in San Juan City on Friday.
Asked whether the DFA is looking to issue counter-sanctions on Chinese officials, Lazaro stressed that the Philippines does not ban certain personalities from entering the country, even if it has the right to do so.
“Hindi natin ginagawa ’yan, I mean, we’ve never imposed any sanctions, and kung meron man silang pagkakamali, we have a diplomatic protest—’yon ang ginagawa natin,” she said.
The DFA chief emphasized that the Philippines’ foreign policy does not involve imposing sanctions, but on diplomacy and peaceful dialogue.
“Sa totoo lang, Pilipinas doesn’t really believe in sanctions, kaya even may mga countries na nagkakaroon ng problema… hindi namin ginagawa ang sanctions, kinakausap namin. Because [sa] pag-iisip namin, diplomacy and dialogue is the best way,” Lazaro said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), for its part, expressed its “absolute solidarity” with Teodoro and called Beijing’s sanctions as a “transparent attempt at political intimidation” to silence critics.
In a statement, the Office of the Special AFP Spokesperson for WPS rejected China’s accusations against Teodoro, stressing that the Defense chief’s statements at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue and other international fora are “clear, accurate representations of international law, the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the sovereign rights of the Filipino people.”
“The AFP maintains that no amount of foreign pressure, legal maneuvering, or personal targeting of our leadership will deter the men and women of the military from performing our constitutional duty,” it said.
“We will continue our routine maritime and aerial patrols, protect our fishermen, and defend our sovereignty and every inch of Philippine sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.” (with reports from Patrick de Jesus and Gab Humilde Villegas / PTV News)
-avds
