- 3 years ago
The Armed Forces of the Philipines asks China to behave as it sets a new resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre.
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo denies a deal was made with China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal during her term.
And, senators seek a probe into the death of a Navotas teen who was killed by the police due to mistaken identity.
Senate minority leader Koko Pimentel joins us live.
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Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo denies a deal was made with China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal during her term.
And, senators seek a probe into the death of a Navotas teen who was killed by the police due to mistaken identity.
Senate minority leader Koko Pimentel joins us live.
Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/
Follow our social media pages:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Welcome to The Source, where we combine the headlines with in-depth conversations with
00:06 the newsmakers themselves.
00:08 Sitting in for Pinky Webb, I'm Mai Rodriguez.
00:11 Today on the program, the Armed Forces of the Philippines asks China to behave as it
00:16 sets a new resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.
00:21 Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo denies a deal was made with China to remove the BRP
00:28 Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal during her term.
00:31 And Senators seek a probe into the death of a Navotas teen who was killed by the police
00:37 due to mistaken identity.
00:40 Senate Minority Leader Coco Pimentel joins us live.
00:54 The AFP is set to embark on another resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre weeks after
01:00 the water cannon incident involving the Chinese Coast Guard.
01:04 It urged the CCG to behave and not meddle in the upcoming rotation and resupply mission
01:11 to Filipino troops.
01:13 The military asked China to respect the Philippines' sovereign rights and jurisdiction.
01:19 Let's go straight to the source of the story, Senate Minority Leader Coco Pimentel.
01:25 Good morning, Senator.
01:28 Good morning, Mai.
01:29 Ma'am, good morning.
01:31 Sir, thank you for joining us this morning.
01:35 Let's start with this new resupply mission to be conducted to Ayungin Shoal in the coming
01:41 days or weeks.
01:43 While we have yet to see how China will react again to this mission, Beijing maintains it
01:50 will take the necessary measures to protect its claims.
01:54 What do you make of this statement?
01:57 And also, we heard this weekend that the AFP has appealed or called on China to respect,
02:06 also to behave, to respect the new mission that they'll be conducting.
02:10 Yes, that's correct.
02:14 We should inform China that we are actually resupplying our people, our people, human
02:23 beings who are there in the Ayungin Shoal, in that grounded sea vessel.
02:31 But then, of course, there is really an issue as far as that area is concerned.
02:38 We really have a problem with our claims.
02:42 So therefore, let us anticipate what China can possibly do.
02:49 And then, let us now prepare for what they can possibly do.
02:52 And then, take advantage of the fact that the contested or the involved area is closer
03:03 to what we call Philippine mainland.
03:06 So the AFP and the Philippine Coast Guard should know what I mean.
03:15 Yes, Senator.
03:16 Well, should the AFP deploy more assets then to the area in order to make these resupply
03:22 missions reach, actually reach the BRP Sierra Madre?
03:28 Correct.
03:30 So, redundancy, surplus, all assets coming from a lot of places.
03:41 So, let's show that we can do this in spite of some resistance.
03:50 Because let us not anticipate or prepare for a perfect world.
03:58 Because there is really a clash in claims.
04:02 In China, they teach this to their young school students that that area is their territory.
04:11 So that is really their position.
04:13 We disagree with their position.
04:15 We have our own position and they disagree.
04:19 They disagree with our position.
04:21 So, let us prepare that there will really be some resistance or some actions pursuant
04:27 to a certain perspective.
04:30 But then, look at the geography.
04:33 We say that geography is part of our argument that this is really Philippine territory or
04:40 Philippine maritime zone.
04:43 Because if you look at geography, logic tells us that that should be the case.
04:48 Take advantage of the geography that we are citing.
04:54 Your colleague Senator Cheese Escudero is proposing a budget of P100 million in 2024
05:02 for the possible construction of a structure in Ayungin Shoal.
05:07 Is this something you support, Senator?
05:10 Yes, that is a possibility.
05:14 I will keep an open mind to that idea.
05:17 For as long as the structure is non-military in nature, that should be okay.
05:25 Because the Philippines' position is that Ayungin Shoal is within the exclusive economic
05:33 zone of the Republic of the Philippines.
05:35 And then under international law, the coastal state, tayo yon, may coastline doon, can build
05:43 structures within its exclusive economic zone to take advantage of the resources found
05:52 in the EEZ to help its fisherfolk just for emergency cases, etc.
05:59 But for as long as it's a non-military structure, that's okay.
06:04 Non-military structure, what kind of structures do you think can be constructed in Ayungin
06:09 Shoal?
06:10 Sino po ang magco-construct?
06:15 Pwede be BFAR, DNR, pwede DPWH, pwede DA.
06:24 Depende po yan sa programang o proyektong may iisip.
06:27 So for our fisherfolk, for example, ang ating scenario would be they are in the area, then
06:34 all of a sudden there is bad weather, dapat meron silang masilungan.
06:38 Like a shelter for example.
06:39 That's a shelter, that is not a military structure.
06:45 And then pwede tayong maglagay siguro dyan ng parang halfway house for our research vehicles.
06:58 They can rest or they can resupply.
07:01 We can do all of these things.
07:03 Senator, do you think is construction even doable?
07:07 Kasi po itong resupply missions pangalang ay nagkakaproblema na with Chinese authorities
07:15 given the latest water cannon incident and the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard.
07:24 I'm not saying that there will not be any problems or any resistance, but the idea,
07:32 since the Philippine perspective is that is part of our EEZ, then the idea to build a
07:39 structure in our EEZ is not against international law.
07:43 And if we can afford it, we should entertain it, lalo na especially if it makes sense,
07:48 it has a purpose, a civilian purpose to our fisherfolk.
07:53 But then actually doing it, if there's a will, there should be a way.
07:59 Okay, Senator, we talked about the proposal of Senator Cheese Escudero to allot a 100
08:06 million peso budget for construction in Ayung and Shoal.
08:10 And speaking of budgets, Senator, given these external threats in the region, are there
08:15 any items in the proposed 2024 budget that you want to be realigned in order to strengthen
08:22 the capabilities of our armed forces and the Coast Guard?
08:27 We are always open to that, but I have not studied the 2024 budget, proposed budget yet
08:35 in detail.
08:37 But generally speaking, we should beef up the Philippine Coast Guard.
08:45 The military, there has been a long-term plan to modernize their facilities and their equipment
08:52 and their vessels.
08:54 Unfortunately, what I'm hearing is they are excited about purchasing submarines.
09:02 I'm personally very much against the idea because I do not see how a submarine can help
09:08 us resupply any of our outposts.
09:12 I do not see how a submarine can help us during disaster periods to deliver relief goods.
09:22 It's actually just a, what they call a bling-bling.
09:34 Because it has become the trend in our area that other countries have submarines, then
09:38 we should also have a submarine.
09:40 We should concentrate on surface vessels.
09:43 Specifically, Senator, what else does our Coast Guard need?
09:51 Surface vessels, more speedboats, maybe helicopters would be very practical.
09:59 And of course, their warehouses, their jump-off points, etc.
10:04 Yes.
10:05 Going back to the Ayungin Shoal, China remains unfazed over its claim that there was a promise
10:12 to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, Senator.
10:16 And former President Gloria Arroyo already denied this.
10:20 The sons of former President Joseph Estrada also denied this claim.
10:25 And President Marcos even said that if there is one such promise or deal, that he is already
10:33 rescinding it.
10:34 But as a lawmaker, is there even a merit to investigate?
10:38 Do you think this should be investigated?
10:43 No need to investigate this.
10:44 No, I have been a senator for more than 10 years now.
10:47 I have never heard this claim, except until now.
10:54 So this could be a bluff to keep us preoccupied with something which is not that important.
11:02 At any rate, President Bongbong Marcos, he wanted to put an end to this path so that
11:13 we will no longer pursue this path.
11:15 He said, "If there is one, I rescind it."
11:20 So that's it.
11:21 That's it.
11:22 Okay.
11:23 Well, we'd like to get your thoughts, Senator, on the appointment of former DFA Secretary
11:28 Ted Giloxin as special envoy to China.
11:33 Well, we already have our regular ambassador to China, and that ambassador uses the network
11:43 of the state of the People's Republic of China.
11:48 So a special envoy must supplement the connections, the official state bodies of the People's
11:57 Republic of China.
11:59 So that is now my question.
12:00 Is former Secretary Teddy Boy Loxin close to Chinese society?
12:11 Not government, because we have our own regular ambassador.
12:17 So we should have appointed someone who has extra connections to use in addition to the
12:30 official state organs.
12:31 Do you have anyone in mind, Senator?
12:32 Do you have anyone in mind who should be appointed instead?
12:36 No, I don't have someone in mind, but I know that this administration already has designated
12:44 some Filipino-Chinese business people to also serve as special envoys to China.
12:51 So maybe they're limiting the scope of the special envoy.
13:00 How about former President Duterte, Senator?
13:03 Former President Duterte.
13:04 His name has been floated, the name of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
13:11 Yeah, if the former president wants the job and he still wants to work, okay, okay po
13:20 yun.
13:21 I think it's a good idea because his connections would also be to personal, personal connections
13:26 all the way up to incumbent Chinese officials.
13:31 Okay, we have lots more things to talk about, but we have to take a short break.
13:35 This is The Source on CNN Philippines.
13:38 Stay tuned.
13:38 You're watching The Source on CNN Philippines.
13:48 I'm Maya Rodriguez.
13:49 Our source today, Senate Minority Leader Coco Pimentel.
13:53 Now, Senator, let's talk about the ASEAN and China that will be holding the Code of Conduct
14:01 talks this week, starting tomorrow, August 22 to 24.
14:06 But the COC talks has been ongoing for over two decades now.
14:10 Are you still hopeful that a code will be finalized?
14:16 We have no choice but to pursue such a code.
14:22 At the international level of negotiations, I think this is part of the realities that
14:31 it really takes years to come up with something.
14:33 So in this particular case, two decades.
14:37 So we have no choice, but this is multilateral.
14:42 And then it involves economic, military, and political interests of more than two countries.
14:52 So we really expect hard negotiations and this will really take a long time.
14:57 But in the meantime, there should be progress in some other areas.
15:01 There are concerns though that because it has taken this long, could the delay result
15:08 in a weaker or diluted COC?
15:12 Well, not necessarily, but it could also mean that there will never be a COC.
15:21 That's why other courses of action must also be explored.
15:27 Should the Philippines maintain that the recognition of the 2016 Arbitral Award be part of the
15:35 code?
15:36 That's something that China has been calling illegal, null, and void.
15:45 If we insist on the 2016 Arbitral ruling, which one party to the negotiations of the
15:51 code does not accept, then maybe that is the surefire formula to never have a code.
16:01 So maybe code of conduct, actions should not escalate into actions which can be deemed
16:16 as war-like.
16:17 So it's a code of conduct.
16:21 But the Philippines, whether or not the 2016 Arbitral ruling is mentioned in any code of
16:27 conduct agreement, must claim our victory in the 2016 Arbitral ruling and be proud of
16:39 that victory.
16:40 When we filed the case, that means we were ready for the result.
16:47 Since we won some victories in the said Arbitral ruling, we should support the ruling all the
16:54 way.
16:55 Okay, Senator.
16:56 Let's teach the Philippines, share it with the whole world so they can teach it to their
17:03 maritime or international law institutes.
17:06 Okay, Senator, let's talk about the mandatory ROTC that's being proposed.
17:12 Given the unpredictable geopolitical landscape, some lawmakers believe that it's time to bring
17:17 back the mandatory ROTC.
17:20 Do you agree, Senator?
17:23 Well, I disagree because if we look at the specific version pending before the Senate,
17:34 it's again a very confused version.
17:39 We want to expose our college students to military concepts.
17:48 And then they added police law enforcement, disaster preparedness, good citizenship, good
18:00 conduct and right manners.
18:03 So it's such an unfocused bill.
18:09 I do not think we can achieve all of the goals in that bill.
18:15 So that is a very specific objection to a specific bill.
18:19 But concept-wise, those who want to take up ROTC, basic ROTC, and then advanced ROTC are
18:32 not prevented from doing so.
18:35 Allowed under the NSTP existing program, mandatory ROTC is one of the three tracks that students
18:49 can freely, voluntarily, and intentionally choose.
18:55 So that's already there.
18:59 And nobody is saying that the system is not working, except that there are three tracks
19:05 and some students choose one, two, or three.
19:11 So what our proponents want to happen is there will be only one choice.
19:16 I think this is already unnecessary and illogical.
19:23 There are also many students choosing ROTC.
19:27 Okay, Senator.
19:28 We'll have to take another short break.
19:31 This is The Source on CNN Philippines.
19:32 Please stay tuned.
19:40 You're watching The Source on CNN Philippines.
19:42 I'm Maya Rodriguez.
19:43 Our source today, Senate Minority Leader Coco Pimentel.
19:47 Senator, you are seeking a probe into the killing of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar in
19:56 Navotas by policemen.
19:59 What should be the focus of this Senate investigation?
20:06 Why this happened, and then what happened, and a lot of other things.
20:13 It will be brought back to the Police Manual of Procedure.
20:19 And then, of course, how did we help the family, the family of the victim?
20:25 Senator, there has been a lot of talk about the operational lapses by the Navotas Police.
20:35 How do you think can this be prevented?
20:39 Well, this should be used as an example that when you violate your manual of procedure,
20:53 and it results in a situation like this where there is loss of human life and loss of a
21:00 young life, loss of a young innocent life, there will be severe consequences.
21:13 Hence,
21:26 from the basic facts that I know, but I must admit, I just got this from news reports.
21:32 Pinaulanan na kasi sila ng bala. Pa-approach pa lang yung ating mga kapulisan. Dalawa sila, mabuti, hindi na tamahan yung isa. At mabuti, buhay pa rin yung isa. Siyempre, sino naman ang hindi matatakot doon? Ditatalong ka na talaga to protect or to save yourself.
21:51 Maraming masyadong, yan pa lang ang basic tanong ko. Kung totoo nangyari yon, bakit ganun na kagad yung approach ng ating kapulisan?
22:03 At doon po sa affidavit ng some of the policemen, sir, sabi nila they fired, in the water, they fired shots sa tubig. Tumalun doon kasi si Jemboy.
22:15 Correct. Yes, that's it. So wala nang threat sa kanila yon. That should be very basic, pero yan ang tanongin natin yung mga involved. What was going on through their minds?
22:28 Pati basic principles na pinapractice naman nila dapat yan, dinidrill sa ulo nila, bakit at that particular time, nalilimuta nila? Kung meron ba nagpaputok, susunod na lahat? Wala bang may lakas ng loob na nagsasabing, "Stop firing, mali itong ginagawa natin."
22:54 Tapos, ang pagkakaalam ko pa dahil nag-speech dito si Sen. Rafi Tulfo, gusto rin niya itong paimbestigahan, ako resolution, siya speech. Iniwan pa yata yung katawan sa tubig. So hindi na proper actions ng mga kapulisan.
23:19 Something went terribly wrong. Ngayon ang tanong, terribly wrong nung araw o gabi na yan? Or something is terribly wrong with our entire police force? Yan yung gusto nating malaman.
23:35 Good luck on the hearing, Sen. Thank you for joining us this morning, Sen. Minority Leader Coco Pimentel.
23:42 Thank you for joining us here on the SOURCE sitting in for Pinky Web. I'm Maya Rodriguez. You're watching CNN Philippines.
23:51 [Music]
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