China is at it again trying to intimidate the Philippines’ staunchest defenders by holding and questioning former DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario at the Hong Kong Airport. It was only a month ago when the same tactic was used on former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
This is looking more and more like retaliation for the filed case against China at the ICC. We said it before, we’ll say it again: this will not deter them from pursuing China at court. This will only strengthen their resolve as we continue to assert for our sovereign rights.
We are just fresh from a maritime incident with China as 22 of our fishermen were left abandoned at sea after their boat was sank in Recto Bank. Our government has so far sat idly by as Filipinos continue to be affected by their relentless exertion of power. We need our government acting decisively to protect our citizens rather than kowtow to a foreign power that harasses, intimidates and bullies our very own. We call on our government to protect and defend our citizens and to end its complicity and collaboration with China’s highhandedness.
After being held and questioned for six hours, former Sec. Del Rosario has now been denied entry to Hong Kong. The reasons remain unclear. They must answer to us: Why was a former top diplomat held, questioned, and barred entry at the Hong Kong airport?
We call on the DFA to exhaust all diplomatic means to ensure Sec. Del Rosario’s safety and to help protect his rights while he is yet to arrive home.
Nariyan na naman ang Tsina sa pagsubok takutin ang mga pinaka-masusugid na tagapagtanggol ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng pagkwestiyon at pagpigil makalabas sa Hong Kong Airport kay dating DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario. Noong nakaraang buwan lamang ay ginawa na rin nila ito kay dating Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
Nagmumukha lalo itong pagganti sa isinampa nilang kaso sa ICC laban sa Tsina. Sinabi na namin dati, sasabihin namin muli ngayon: hindi nila sila mapipigilang harapin sa korte ang Tsina. Papatibayin lamang nito ang kanilang paninindigan habang patuloy tayong nakikipaglaban para sa ating mga karapatan at soberenya.
Noong nakaraan lamang ay mayroong maritime incident laban sa Tsina kung saan 22 ng ating mga mangingisda ay iniwan sa karagatan matapos ilubog ang kanilang bangka sa Recto Bank. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring ginagawa ang ating pamahalaan habang patuloy na naapektuhan ang ating mga kababayan sa walang humpas na paggamit ng kapangyarihan ng Tsina. Kailangan natin ng pamahalaan na tiyak ang pagkilos para sa pagprotekta sa ating mga mamamayan, kesa ang yumuyuko lamang sa mga banyagang patuloy ang panggigipit, pananakot, at panunupil sa kapwa nating Pilipino. Nananawagan kami sa ating pamahalaan na protektahan at ipaglaban ang ating mga mamamayan at wakasan na ang pakikipagsabwatan at pakikipagtulungan sa nagmamataas na Tsina.
Matapos kwestiyunin nang anim na oras, hindi na pinayagang makapasok sa Hong Kong si dating Sec. Del Rosario. Hindi pa rin malinaw ang dahilan. Kailangan nila tayong sagutin: Bakit kwinestiyon at pinigilang makapasok ang isang dating top diplomat sa Hong Kong airport?
Nananawagan kami sa DFA na ubusin ang lahat ng diplomatikong paraan upang masiguro ang kaligtasan ni Sec. Del Rosario at maprotektahan ang kanyang mga karapatan habang hindi pa sya nakakauwi.