By Junex Doronio

AFTER BEING CALLED A HYPOCRITE by Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday shot back at China’s denial that its Chinese Maritime Militia is polluting the waters and the Philippines is only creating “drama” over the destruction of corals in parts of the West Philippine Sea.

“Stop making allegation that BRP Sierra Madre is polluting the water, but blame it to your numerous Chinese Maritime Militia swarming the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said.

On Saturday, September 23, Teodoro called China a hypocrite over its remarks on environmental damage in the WPS, saying these “will only heighten the mistrust by the Filipino people and the rest of the world of the Chinese Government.”

Earlier last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has flatly denied allegations that the Chinese were responsible for the damage to corals in the West Philippine Sea while demanding the removal of BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal.

“The Philippines’ accusations have no factual basis. We urge relevant party of the Philippines to stop creating a political drama from fiction,” Mao said on Thursday, September 21.

She added that if the Philippines truly cares about the environment, it should remove the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal, the formation that China called Ren’ai Jiao.

Mao said the Philippines should stop the vessel “from discharging polluted water into the ocean and not let the rusting warship bring irrevocable harm to the ocean.”

She was referring to BRP Sierra Madre, which was deliberately grounded at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999 during the administration of President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, and it has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory since then.

The past administrations of former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Rodrigo Roa Duterte noticeably did not add other physical symbols of Philippine sovereignty in the WPS.

“The destruction of corals goes far beyond drama. It is a violent act and a serious crime against humanity,” Tarriela stressed. (ai/mnm)