THE National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) yesterday urged Filipinos to end discussions on a supposed commitment of the Philippines to China to remove a Navy ship grounded at the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
Jonathan Malaya, assistant deputy general of the National Security Council and spokesman of the NTF-WPS, said people are falling victim to China’s psychological warfare by continuously talking about the non-existing commitment.
“We think this is part of what we call psychological or cognitive warfare of China so we will not be united in our position (on the Ayungin Shoal issue),” he said.
“It’s better for them (Chinese) if we, as a nation, are not united. They (Chinese) are exerting efforts, through their own political operators in our country, to undermine our position at a time when we are supposed to be united,” he added.
Turning the tables on China, Malaya said China reneged on its commitment not to militarize the Chinese-occupied Mischief Reef and to leave Scarborough Shoal in 2012.
Mischief Reef, about 134 nautical miles from Palawan, is said to be equipped with large anti-aircraft guns and possibly close-in weapons systems.
“At Scarborough Shoal, the arrangement was very clear. The Philippines will pull out, they (China) will pull out. Both sides will pull out but they (Chinese) didn’t leave. That was also promise also of China so it seems they have a double standard in dealing with us,” said Malaya.
Philippine and Chinese vessels figured in a standoff at Scarborough Shoal in 2012 after Philippine authorities apprehended Chinese fishermen illegally fishing at the shoal.
Earlier reports said the two sides agreed to withdraw from the shoal to end the standoff.
Chinese Coast Guard vessels have maintained presence at the shoal since 2012. Numerous cases of Chinese harassment of Filipino fishermen near the Scarborough Shoal have been reported since China gained control of the area.
The latest case of Chinese harassment involves vessels at the Ayungin Shoal. On August 5, six Chinese Coast Guard vessels and two Chinese militia vessels subjected to repeated dangerous maneuvering and water cannoning two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels and two indigenous boats near Ayungin Shoal.
The wooden supply boats were chartered by the military to deliver supplies to troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre, which was grounded at the shoal in 1999 to serve as a military outpost. The PCG vessels were merely escorting the boats.
Only one of the supply boats managed to reach the shoal due to the Chinese harassment.
The military said it is sending another resupply mission to the shoal because the supplies that reached the troops last August 5 were not enough.
China justified the actions of its Coast Guard vessels, saying these were “professional, restrained and beyond reproach.” It later demanded that the Philippine government remove the BRP Sierra Madre from the shoal, in keeping with the latter’s supposed commitment.
Last week, President Marcos Jr said he is not aware of such commitment or agreement, adding if there was one, he was rescinding it.
Government officials have dismissed the Chinese demand, noting Ayungin Shoal is within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada earlier this week asked China to name the Philippine official who supposedly made the promise to remove BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal.
Former Press Secretary Rigoberto Tiglao, who served under the Arroyo administration, said the commitment was made in 1999 by then President Joseph Estrada, the senator’s father.
Malaya said, “The issue should have been closed when the President (Marcos Jr) spoke (about it)… That (President’s remarks) should have put an end to the issue.”
“What’s happening is former Secretary Tiglao is clouding the issue,” he added.
Malaya said Filipinos should be united in pushing for the interest of the Philippines on the Ayungin Shoal issue.
“They are using the issue (supposed 1999 commitment) to divide us, so that we will not be united and resort to pointing fingers. Let us not fall into the trap (of China),” added Malaya.
