‘BAKA TROJAN HORSE?’ SURIGAO DEL NORTE REP BARBERS ASKS PCG TO AX CHINESE AUXILIARY MEMBERS

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Alarmed by the entry of some Chinese nationals into the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) auxiliary force in the face of China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea, Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers on Sunday (24 March 2024) urged the PCG to stop recruiting Chinese nationals.

Barbers pointed out that logically, the PCG should not be recruiting other nationalities into its forces even if they serve as volunteers during times of disaster and help donate in relief operations.

“Magandang mayroong mga volunteers diyan sa PCG. Pero it doesn’t make sense na nagre-recruit tayo ng hindi natin kalahi para dito sa operation. Kaya ng ‘Philippine Coast Guard’ eh, hindi naman sinabing Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard ‘yan,” the Surigaonon lawmaker said in his interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

He said in a recent congressional hearing that the Chinese auxiliary members of the PCG may be performing “spying duties in the guise of being auxiliary force members.”

But PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo maintained that there was no strong basis on which to conclude that these Chinese nationals recruited into the auxiliary force were spies.

He claimed that the PCG had a vetting process when the Chinese applied.

Balilo said that the Chinese have been helping the Coast Guard for a long time but for humanitarian assistance and donations only.

Pending the formal investigation into the matter, Barbers stressed that the PCG should stop the recruitment process first for other nationals who want to serve in the auxiliary force.

“Ako’y nananawagan sa officers ng ating PCG na medyo makonsensya tayo ng konti at itigil natin muna ang paggamit o pag-recruit nitong mga Chinese nationals. Number two, habang patuloy ang imbestigasyon dito, dapat i-terminate muna ang mga ‘yan. Wag munang paalisin dahil papatawag natin ‘yan sa Kongreso ‘pag nag-umpisa tayo ng hearing,” Barbers said.

Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that the Chinese nationals in the PCG auxiliary force could be the proverbial Trojan Horse.

According to Wikipedia, the term “Trojan horse” is used metaphorically to mean any trick or strategy that causes a target to invite a foe into a securely protected place; or to deceive by appearance, hiding malevolent intent in an outwardly benign exterior; to subvert from within using deceptive means.

(el Amigo/MNM)