MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta said China is unhappy about being portrayed as the “kontrabida” in the West Philippine Sea dispute, relaying remarks he attributed to Beijing’s envoy in Manila.
In a privilege speech on Monday, January 26, Sen. Risa Hontiveros criticized what she described as threatening statements from the Chinese Embassy toward Philippine officials and called for a probe into the matter.
Marcoleta recently met with Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian, whom he said raised concerns about tensions between Manila and Beijing and expressed a desire to set aside the dispute.
Marcoleta said there was “relative peace” during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who had often echoed pro-China positions on the West Philippine Sea.
Remarks on Tarriela and transparency initiative
Marcoleta zeroed in on Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela, who drew criticism from the Chinese Embassy after delivering a presentation that included satirical images of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Rather than defending Tarriela, however, Marcoleta said such statements should be avoided. He relayed the envoy’s view that comments of that nature could not be allowed to pass.
Marcoleta and Tarriela have previously clashed over the West Philippine Sea issue. When Marcoleta was still a House lawmaker, he said the West Philippine Sea did not exist, a statement Tarriela later called an embarrassment.
Marcoleta also questioned the government’s transparency initiative, which documents incidents involving China in disputed waters.
He said the government should be more cautious to avoid “cause of panic” or “misinterpretation.”
“When there is misinterpretation, a small problem becomes worse,” Marcoleta said in Filipino.
Two wrongs do not make a right, Marcoleta said, and such concerns should be aired through a diplomatic channels. He even argued that the Philippines should be open to sharing the West Philippine Sea with China, noting that other countries also have claims in the South China Sea.
“‘Parang kami, masyado naman kami kontrabida’,” Marcoleta said, speaking as if for the Chinese representative. (It’s like, we’re too much of the bad guy.)
Marcoleta also suggested that China could be an ally of the Philippines if differences were set aside.
Hontiveros rejects Marcoleta’s position
Hontiveros countered Marcoleta’s remarks, saying China has itself depicted the Philippine president and other leaders offensively, portraying them as puppets of foreign powers.
She rejected Marcoleta’s characterization of the issue as a “small problem,” since the dispute involves the country’s territory and Filipionos’ livelihoods are at risk.
The problem, she said, is not with Tarriela but with China’s actions toward the Philippines.
“If they feel bad that they’re being depicted as ‘villains’, I’m sorry but in this particular case, they really are the most villainous,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.
Hontiveros said other claimant states in the South China Sea have not attacked Philippine vessels or blocked Filipino fishermen in the same way China has.
On the prospect of friendly ties with China, she said cooperation would be possible in an ideal world, but not when China is behaving the way it is.
