‘I THINK THEIR CREDIBILITY IS VERY, VERY LOW’: DEFENSE CHIEF GILBERT TEODORO REBUKES CHINA

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Proving that the Philippines is not a pushover, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Friday blatantly rebuked China’s accusation that the Philippines is stirring up trouble in the West Philippine Sea with its joint patrol with the US military.

The defense chief underscored that the interest of the Philippines is to protect its rights in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), considered as the constitution of the seas.

“Sino ba ang nananakop? Sino ba ang kumukubkob sa South China Sea? Sa West Philippine Sea lalo na? It is China,” Teodoro retorted.

He added that China’s claim of following international maritime laws is only in words and not in actual actions.

According to a Reuters report, the Chinese military claimed that the Philippines has enlisted “foreign forces” to patrol the South China Sea and has been stirring up trouble.

“The Philippines is not stirring up trouble. This is the reverse of the truth. It’s an absolute falsity for China to say that and it is once again reversing the truth consistent with its narrative,” Teodoro stressed.

He hammered on: “I think their credibility is very, very low.”

Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Romeo Brawner Jr. bared that the Philippines-US joint maritime and air patrol in the WPS, held from November 21 to 23, was a “success” despite China’s shadowing activities.

“We consider the joint maritime and air patrol between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the [United States Indo-Pacific Command] a success,” Brawner said.

(ai/mnm)