Cayetano on Trillanes: May lightning strike the liar
As his word war with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Rep. Gary Alejano heats up, foreign affairs chief Alan Peter Cayetano said he wished lightning would strike the one among them peddling lies about developments in the West Philippine Sea.
Cayetano slammed yesterday Trillanes and Alejano for claiming President Duterte had ordered the military to cease patrols in the West Philippine Sea.
He accused the two of “politicizing” the issue and belied their claim that the administration was soft on the Chinese.
“But I’m telling you now I’ll resign if we lost a single inch (of territory) and I’ll not only resign from DFA. Hindi na ako magpapa-appoint at hindi na ako tatakbo ng kahit na anong posisyon (I’ll never accept reappointment or run for any public position),” Cayetano said at a press conference.
“But how come Cong. Alejano and Sen. Trillanes can’t say the same thing? O tamaan na ng kidlat kung sino sa amin ang nagsisinungaling (May lightning strike the one lying),” he said.
He also urged Alejano to ask Trillanes why the Philippines lost Panatag Shoal after the senator’s backdoor negotiation with China during the Aquino administration.
The Philippines, he said, lost Panatag Shoal despite Trillanes’ assurances then that it would return to the country’s control.
The Department of Foreign Affairs chief said he invited Trillanes and Alejano to come to the DFA for a briefing and discussion on diplomatic action taken by the government – including protests filed against China.
He said he wants to secure clearance from President Duterte to personally show to Trillanes and Alejano pictures and reports and other information on the latest patrols in the West Philippine Sea.
“So I’m a hundred percent sure that what you and Congressman Alejano are telling us are lies,” he said.
“I can tell you now it’s very irresponsible of Sen. Trillanes and Cong. Alejano to say there are no patrols. They endangered our security and our standing in this dispute,” Cayetano added.
“I thought you want to strengthen our position, then why are you announcing we have no more security? You see, they’re playing politics.”
He stressed the arrangement with China that allows Filipino fishermen at Panatag is a “goodwill” gesture on the part of the Chinese – and the right thing to do for the Philippines.