MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said the issue of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) should be a “unifying factor” among all Filipinos that should elicit unequivocal patriotism and nationalism amid dissenting opinions on Chinese aggression in the disputed waters.
“The West Philippine Sea issue is actually a unifying factor, or it should be a unifying factor for all Filipinos. 'Pag usapin ng West Philippine Sea, wala itong kulay, wala itong politika, wala itong relihiyon, wala itong rehiyon, wala itong ah kung ano ang lenggwahe mo o dialect mo, 'no? It's a unifying factor for all Filipinos,” Col. Francel Padilla, AFP spokesman for WPS told reporters in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
(The West Philippine Sea issue is actually a unifying factor, or it should be a unifying factor for all Filipinos. When it comes to the West Philippine Sea issue, it has no political colors, no politics, no religion, no region, regardless of your language or dialect, right? It's a unifying factor for all Filipinos.)
Padilla noted that the WPS issue isn’t only military, it is also a food, energy and resource and national security issue.
As a unifying call, Padilla even called out to the remnants of armed resistance to return to the folds of the law and altogether front a unified defense against illegal, coercive and aggressive threats in the WPS.
“Kapag Pilipino ka, 'no, aandidiyan ang usapin: pro-sovereignty ka, pro-sovereign rights ka, and we uphold international law,” Padilla said.
(If you are a Filipino, right, the point is this: you are pro-sovereignty, you are pro-sovereign rights, and we uphold international law.)
Despite the series of aggressive behavior of Chinese maritime forces in the WPS, several Filipinos, lawmakers still have a soft stance on China.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. earlier said Philippine officials who side with China on the WPS issue should resign or challenge the nation's maritime laws in court.
Davao Rep. Paulo “Pulong” Duterte publicly criticized Teodoro and told him to stop "demonizing China.” This statement earned massive criticism from government officials. Palace Press secretary Claire Castro in particular hit back at Duterte calling his statements “very alarming” and that his allegiance to the country is not solid.
With such statements, Padilla said “all the more that we should call and tap into their hearts for patriotism and nationalism.”
As for officials who are still pushing for joint oil and gas explorations with China despite their aggressive behavior and deceptive narratives, Padilla said Filipino hearts should beat only for what’s good for the country.
“We should all be pro-Filipinos. Whatever it is that will be advantageous to us as a nation, that is what we will push for. And we, of course, expect 'yung suporta nga po ng ating mga policy-level makers para dito, na maisulong natin ito, (..we expect the support of our policy-level makers for this, so that we can push this forward)” Padilla said.
