"Four in five Filipinos distrust China. Do you?"
There have been a lot of controversial reactions to the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping last week and to the signing of 29 deals, especially that on the joint exploration for oil, gas, and minerals.
Most of the Western press calls the deals part of the Chinese debt colonialism or China’s debt expansionism as they cite countries that are highly indebted to China—Sri Lanka, Pakistan, some countries in Africa and even far off Fiji Islands in the South Pacific.
Here in the Philippines, we are assured that the controversial memorandum of understanding was drafted by no less than Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin and yet to be implemented after a year. This is to the advantage of the Philippines, conforming with the 60-40 ownership provision of the Constitution.
This assurance is further bolstered by the Senate, which still has to review not only the MOU on the joint exploration but the other 28 deals as well.
Thus, things are still up in the air! The contents, the amount of indebtedness, the firms and agencies implementing the deal and the benefits we are supposed to derive from the deal are still subject to speculation.
The Duterte administration should also make the other deals public to assure us that our President did not sacrifice sovereignty in exchange for loans, grants, investments, and other accommodations.
Filipinos are suspicious of China’s real motives because President Duterte does not protest China’s militarization and occupation of the islands and shoals within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.
Eight in 10 Filipinos do not trust China, according to a recent survey. Do you?
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Despite the noises and chest-beating by the militant and Left-leaning party-list representatives, I am all for it!
I refer to the move of President Duterte to deploy more members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to Bicol, Samar, and Negros in the wake of increasing violence perpetrated by the New People’s Army.
The communists are expected to protest such moves. They say it’s a prelude to martial law. I don’t agree.
I am all for military and police presence in areas where there appears to be lawless violence, especially with the upcoming midterm elections. Their presence is needed to curb guns-for-hire, private armies, and loose firearms.
We all know that in the local level, candidates for governor, mayor, and vice mayors take elections so seriously that it’s a matter of life and death.
That’s why we see local officials fielding family members and other relatives—to prevent their rivals from sharing the power. That’s how it is here.
I can’t forget that time in my hometown in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur, where competing politicians control opposite sides of the national highway, so much so that companies of soldiers were sent to guard the town.
In Abra, where I was born, politicians take elections seriously so that somebody gets killed every now and then.
In line with the President’s desire to suppress lawless violence, I would even recommend that the President should send more soldiers and cops in so-called election hotspots. In these places, local police can no longer be trusted because they may have become the private army of some politicians.
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Despite the fact that Makati Mayor Abby Binay is doing an excellent job for the citizens of the richest city in the Philippines, there are still some efforts to derail her projects.
My gulay, I am referring to the fact that benefits for senior citizens like me and my wife are being held hostage by majority of the policy-making body of the city council.
Mayor Abby had plans on granting centenarians like me (I am now 91) P10,000 annually on top of the P5,000 we receive every year.
Those who are holding the plan hostage want Abby’s brother to replace her. The real reason is that on cleaning up the mess left by her predecessor, she has had to include some of the councilors who have abused city funds by hiring ghost employees. They are now the same people egging Junjun to run against his sister.
A proof of Abby’s good performance is the endorsement of their father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay.
I have been following Abby’s performance as mayor and I say she is really doing a good job. She takes care of us senior citizens. She also plans to build a 10-kilometer subway around the city.
I think the choice is clear.
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Despite the fact that Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio is not on the same page as President Duterte on the issue of the West Philippine Sea, he still deserves to be chief justice.
Carpio has been bypassed at least twice as chief justice. He has probity, integrity, and independence. In fact he praises the President when the latter deserves it.
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I cannot end this column without commiserating with the family of Metrobank founder and chairman emeritus George SK Ty, a good friend. He was a banker of note. He was also a cut above the rest in his vision and philanthropy.
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