BARBERS ASSAILS “MAKABAGONG MAKAPILI” PINOYS, TSINOYS, TROLLS, AND VLOGGERS PARROTING CHINA’S PROPAGANDA ON WPS ISSUE

By Junex Doronio

MANILA – A Mindanao lawmaker on Monday (16 December 2024) condemned what he referred to as the “Modern Traitors” or “Makabagong Makapili” — Filipinos and Chinese-Filipino (Tsinoy) individuals, along with their financially-backed local trolls and vloggers, who defend, support, and propagate China’s narrative concerning its territorial claims, hostile actions, and violations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, lead chair of the Lower House’s Quad Committee and chair of the House’s Dangerous Drugs panel, expressed deep dismay over the existence of unpatriotic Filipino trolls and vloggers who, he believes, have lost their sense of nationalism for the sake of money.

“They are spreading false information against our own country. They are firmly stating that China’s claims on our territories are valid and that we should engage in dialogue to resolve this conflict peacefully,” Barbers said.

“Have they not seen or heard of our repeated attempts to engage with Chinese leaders? What has been their response? One answer – ‘The entire sea is ours, including the whole of the Philippines,’” he added.

In a privilege speech delivered at the House plenary, Barbers pointed out that China had set the precondition of disregarding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Hague-based International Arbitral Tribunal ruling, both of which favor the Philippine claims over the WPS, before engaging in dialogue.

He also mocked China’s claim to the South China Sea, citing that the name “South China Sea” was given by Portuguese explorers, not the Chinese. The region was once called the Champa Sea, named after the Austronesian Kingdom of Central Vietnam.

“This, despite the clear ruling of the UNCLOS and the IAT that China’s claim to historic rights in the WPS has no basis in law and is legally invalid,” he continued.

“If historical rights are China’s argument for claiming the WPS, then Mongolia should own all of China since they conquered it during the Yuan Dynasty under Kublai Khan. By the same logic, Spain should also claim the Philippines as their own, given that they ruled us for over 300 years,” Barbers added.

UNCLOS, also known as the Law of the Sea, is an international treaty that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities, and China was one of the signatories when it was adopted in 1982.

However, Barbers emphasized that China continues to ignore and disrespect the UNCLOS and IAT rulings, which favor the Philippines’ claims to the WPS, as well as the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“The Philippines won the IAT ruling in The Hague, which upheld what the UNCLOS says. Furthermore, the Arbitral Tribunal called China’s nine-dash line a fictitious claim. Thus, we have two pieces of evidence that the world and the law recognize,” Barbers stressed.

He also pointed out China’s continuous intrusion into the Philippines’ EEZ, hostile actions against Filipino sailors and fishermen, encroachment into territorial waters, and militarization of the WPS.

China has also expressed its opposition to the Philippines’ Republic Acts 12064 and 12065, which govern the country’s maritime zones. Chinese officials summoned the Philippine Ambassador in Beijing, demanding the repeal of these laws.

“Well, it seems that not only the WPS but the entire government is what they want to control,” Barbers quipped.

In addition to its actions in the WPS, China has allegedly been involved in the creeping invasion of the Philippines, with the influx of thousands of Chinese offshore gaming (POGO) workers and other criminal elements involved in activities like murder, torture, kidnapping, cybercrimes, and illegal drugs.

“Chinese drug suspects have also laundered money, created interlocking purely Chinese-owned companies, and illegally bought thousands of hectares of land. This doesn’t even include the more than 6,000 Chinese ‘foreign students’ in suspicious locations studying courses that have no use for Filipinos,” he said.

“Authorities have also detained suspected Chinese soldiers, identified by the military uniforms found in their rented apartments. Recently, they deployed ‘fake fishing vessels’ manned by Chinese navy personnel in the WPS. Now, they are sending ships to supposedly dredge our waters,” he added.

Barbers urged Filipinos not to believe the propaganda that China would wage war against the Philippines due to its partnership with Western allies, calling it a line promoted by the “Makabagong Makapili.” In fact, Barbers said, the alliance with the West has benefitted the country with modern defense equipment, training, and protection.

“Just recently, we almost surrendered our sovereignty to China, pleading for them to annex us as a province. It is fortunate that this did not happen, perhaps due to time constraints. Otherwise, we could be embroiled in a bloody civil war. We are fortunate that we have God on our side,” Barbers concluded.

He called on all Filipinos to unite in condemning the atrocities committed by China both within the Philippines and in the WPS, ensuring the world hears their collective voice.

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