DA seizes ‘mishandled’ meat from Taytay market

By Maricel V. Cruz

He reminded China that Duterte was good to them during his administration. He even pivoted away from the Philippines’ traditional alliance with the United States after then-US President Barack Obama strongly criticized Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.

“While we are a small country, they will do that to us,” said Go.

China’s Coast Guard ships used a water cannon against a Philippine vessel in the West Philippine Sea while it was delivering supplies to Ayungin shoal on Saturday (see main story -- Editors).

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said they were informed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that Duterte told China’s Xi “to look kindly on the Philippines.”

Asked if this appeal seemed effective, Go said Duterte was no longer president of the Philippines.

“That’s a personal trip. He’s no longer the president,” he said. “He went there upon the invitation of a school, a foundation for the inauguration of the Solidad Duterte building, a school there.”

While there, Duterre was invited by President Xi, so he went, Go added.

Go said the Philippines “should fight for what it won,” referring to the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that declared the West Philippine Sea to be within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The ruling invalidated China’s nine-dash line and sweeping claim in the South China Sea.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the Chinese Communication Construction Co. (CCCC), a Chinese stateowned company operating in the Philippines, should also be banned from the country.

“China is not a friend. She is not even a good neighbor…. Banning one of their state-owned companies is a way to tell China that we will not tolerate any abuse anymore,” Hontiveros said.

The Marcos administration had resumed canceled loan applications with the CCCC for the Davao-Digos Rail segment, the Calamba-Matnog long haul rail, and the Subic-Clark Rail.

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