'Pinaka kontrabida!' Hontiveros blasts China anew over WPS claims | ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Sen. Risa Hontiveros slammed Monday the Chinese government for "gaslighting" the Philippines into thinking that Filipinos are the aggressors in the dispute over the West Philippine Sea.
Hontiveros said China was trying to paint itself as the victim after recent posts from the Chinese Embassy X (formerly Twitter) account responded to Filipino government officials' statement over the West Philippine Sea.

"Kung sumasakit ang loob nila dahil ayon sa kanila masyado silang kontrabida, I'm sorry, in this particular case, sila talaga ang pinaka-kontrabida," Hontiveros said during the Senate session.

"Hindi nila pwedeng sabihin na mas marami naman ino-occupy ang Vietnam, may mga kasalanan din ang Malaysia, opo, alam natin may iba't ibang claimant countries sa South China Sea at 'yung iba ay kumbaga karibal din natin sa claims natin bilang Pilipinas pero hindi naman ina-attack ng Vietnamese Navy ang navy at coast guard natin. Hindi naman dine-deny ng Malaysia ang mga mangingisdang Pilipino na makapangisda sa sarili nating karagatan," she added.

As of writing, the Chinese Embassy's X account has responded to statements from Philippine Coast Guard's Jay Tarriela, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Erwin Tulfo, Rep. Chel Diokno, and Rep. Leila De Lima.

"Bukod sa ginagawa nila sa atin sa ating laot, navy, coast guard, mamamayan, gusto pa nila patahimikin kapag may mga pinuno ng gobyerno na magrereklamo. Ang tawag ko dyan sa ugali ng Chinese government ay gaslighting. Sila na nga ang gumagawa ng mali, mamasamain pa nila kapag pinuna ng ating gobyerno. Tayo pa ang may kasalanan at sila pa ngayon ang biktima," she said.

Hontiveros also said that China, in principle, could be an ally but may not be possible if the acts committed by the Chinese Navy in the West Philippine Sea do not stop.

"Wala akong maalalang previous incident na kahit sinong ambassador ng ibang bansa dito sa Pilipinas ay nagpost sa embassy page nila ng kanilang spokesperson laban sa mga opisyal natin na nagsasalita lamang para sa pambansang interes," she said.

Hontiveros added that Philippine government officials' remarks regarding the West Philippine Sea are not merely quips or mockery but rather statements affirming the claims of the country in the disputed sea.

"Hindi po patutsada. Hindi po patutsada lang 'yan. 'Yan po ay seryoso at marubdob, at sa kaso ni Commodore Tarriela, matagal nang pagtutol sa maling pagtrato sa atin ng ibang gobyerno at pagtaguyod sa interes ng ating bayan," she said.

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