By REY O. ARCILLA
MALAYA
MALAYA
‘Pray tell, how can the Philippines be a trouble-maker when she only seeks to resolve the West Philippine Sea issue through peaceful and diplomatic means and resort to international law?’
FIRST, he cries Uncle (Sam). Now, he is crying Ojisan (uncle in Japanese).
Foreign Secretary Albert “Amboy” del Rosario recently told the Financial Times that the Philippines supports a rearmed Japan. (She is already heavily armed, by the way).
The question is did he clear his statement with his boss President Noynoy Aquino? Washington? I doubt it.
The implication of Del Rosario’s statement is that Japan will have to ditch her pacifist constitution.
Has he forgotten it was the US which imposed that constitution on Japan? If he thinks Washington appreciates his statement, he has another think coming.
To begin with, does he have any doubt that the US pivot to this region is enough to blunt China’s seemingly aggressive designs?
Does he doubt the US’ capability to contain China that he thinks US still needs a rearmed Japan?
Has Del Rosario not heard of the US amendments to the US-Japan mutual defense treaty that left no doubt about US commitment to defend Japan in case of a foreign power’s aggression? (He should cite that fact to the Americans the next time he meets with them. Are we less of an ally that our mutual defense treaty with her did not deserve the same treatment?)
As our foreign minister, I wish Del Rosario would refrain from making such reckless statements that only fan the flames of an already simmering dispute. I hope he is aware of the old adage that when elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled.
As the Financial Times commented: “Why can’t Philippines strengthen their own armed forces and bargaining power instead of always relying on others (including those who has a war crime history) to do the heavy lifting for them?”
Touche`!
***
China’s Communist Party mouthpiece, the China Daily news agency, called the Philippines a “trouble-maker”.
Excuse me?! Look who’s talking…
Isn’t China the one now occupying Panatag Shoal which is owned by the Philippines, based on all norms of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of which China is a signatory?
Isn’t China the one violating the principles enshrined in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) of which China is also a signatory?
Pray tell, is it China’s policy to honor international commitments in the breach?
Isn’t China the one that asserts she owns the whole of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on the basis of an imaginary nine-dash line?
Isn’t China the one that issued e-passports with a map that includes the whole WPS?
Isn’t China the one that says she will board, search and expel foreign ships that ply the WPS?
Isn’t China the one that has been issuing statements that smack of doublespeak… that she is not out to provoke but keeps doing provocative things?
Pray tell, how can the Philippines be a trouble-maker when she only seeks to resolve the WPS issue through peaceful and diplomatic means and resort to international law?
***
He’s a man after my heart… I refer to newly retired Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama.
According to the report of Roy C. Mabasa of the Manila Daily Bulletin datelined December 12, Pama said that during a meeting in Honolulu of the Mutual Defense Board (the report did not specify when the meeting took place), the Philippine side virtually told their American counterparts that with or without the US, the Philippines will take a stand on the WPS dispute.
Pama said he told then AFP Chief Eduardo Oban Jr. “to do away with the agenda of the meeting” and be frank with their counterparts. “We told them ‘let’s not talk about the wish list. We are not looking at Santa Claus. This is where we are coming from and we just want to know if you are onboard’.”
Mabasa also reported that according to Pama, they told their US counterparts that if they do not come onboard, “we will have to do it alone because, in the first place, it (WPS) is ours.”
Pama said the US eventually agreed to the Philippine military’s wish list “because those are the things that we need for us to be a reliable partner in whatever challenges that will exist.”
How I wish we had more Pamas, not only in the military but also in our civilian hierarchy!
***
Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and other celebrity members in the House of Representatives voted against the RH bill.
If they are truly honest (don’t forget, it’s a sin to tell a lie!) many, if not all, of those celebrities will admit they practice some form of birth control. Seeing as they are mainly moneyed people, they have no problem with being “responsible” parents. They have easy access to different methods to prevent pregnancy. The poor don’t, that’s why they tend to multiply. And that’s why they remain poor.
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There has been a lot of speculation as to why North Korea decided to launch at this time a rocket that put a satellite in orbit – ranging from marking Kim Jong-Un’s first year in power to his grandfather’s 100th birth anniversary.
My take is that China ordered North Korea to launch the rocket to divert the world’s attention from the former’s recent provocative moves in the WPS.
And North Korea, China’s puppet, would hardly be able to resist, especially considering the famine that regularly visits her during the winter months.
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Reminders (for Noynoy’s action):
1) Filing of charges against officials of the National Food Administration (NFA) during Arroyo’s illegitimate regime. Noynoy himself said on several occasions that there is documentary evidence to prove the venalities in the past in that agency.
Ironically, after two and a half years of inaction on Noynoy’s part, his erstwhile appointee as head of the NFA is now under Senate investigation for alleged anomalies during his stewardship of the agency.
2) Investigation of reported anomalies in the GSIS during the watch of Winston Garcia.
3) Facilitating the investigation of rampant corruption in the military and police establishments.
4) Expeditious action by the AFP on the case of Jonas Burgos
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Today is the 226th day of the sixth year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.
Why has Noynoy not signed the bill passed by Congress on enforced disappearances until now? Is he afraid of the military’s reaction?
***
From an internet friend:
A man went to church one day and afterward, he stopped to shake the preacher’s hand. He said, “Preacher, I’ll tell you, that was a damned fine sermon. Damned good!”
The preacher said, “Thank you sir, but I’d rather you didn’t use profanity.”
The man said, “I was so damned impressed with that sermon I put five thousand dollars in the offering plate!”
The preacher said, “No shit?”
***
Email: roacrosshairs@yahoo.com
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