Senators on China assurance to Rody: God help the Phl

If President Duterte could boast about China’s guarantee of protection and risk exposing his disregard for the will of the people, then “God help us,” said Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday as he and his colleagues expressed shock and disbelief at the Chief Executive’s latest pronouncement.

“God help the Philippines, because we are a sovereign country and only the Filipinos can determine or decide what they want to do and not any foreigner or foreign country,” Lacson said.

His colleagues said it’s the support of the people – not China’s assurance of protection – that Duterte should count on in the face of possible ouster moves.

In separate statements, the senators said the President should accept the inevitability of ouster once the public loses trust in him for whatever reason.

In remarks Tuesday night, Duterte revealed that China’s President Xi Jinping had personally assured him of protection from ouster.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said no amount of backing from foreign governments could save a leader who has lost the support of his constituents.

“This government should rely on the support of its own people, and not on China or any other foreign government, to ensure a strong and effective administration,” said Pangilinan, who is president of the opposition Liberal Party.

“Shouldn’t we learn from the lessons of history? Marcos was ousted in 1986 despite the powerful backing of the US because the people wanted him out for failing to address widespread poverty and abuses in government while enriching himself and his family,” Pangilinan said.

“Like the US in 1986, China will abandon him as President if he loses the support of our citizens,” he added.

Pangilinan questioned the motive behind the President’s issuing such statement in the light of recent developments concerning relations between the two countries.

He cited the supposed lack of response from the Duterte administration to China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea as well as Manila’s securing Chinese loans that are said to be more expensive than those offered by Japan or South Korea.

Sen. Leila de Lima said China’s offer of protection to Duterte was not surprising at all, considering that he has “proven his loyalty to them at the expense of our country’s sovereignty.”

She noted how the current administration has turned a blind eye to China’s aggressive military buildup in the West Philippine Sea.

“By doing this, Duterte aided China to gain substantial military control in the fiercely contested and strategic maritime area in the region. Who would not protect such a valuable and devoted puppet?” De Lima said.