00:00The more patriotic lawmakers in the Senate chose and expressed national pride over the practical and safer option of bowing down or bending to Beijing's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea and their deceitful propaganda against the Philippine government.
00:16And as our Luisa Rizpe reports, not even doomsday warnings from lawmakers favoring China's stance did not sway them from voting for a resolution upholding the country's sovereign rights and entitlements and the leaders sworn to protect them.
00:34Another heated debate erupted yesterday at the Senate plenary regarding the recent insults and statements issued by the Chinese embassy against Philippine government officials.
00:44But while previous exchanges involved Senator Rodante Marculeta, this time the clash was between Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and the resolution's sponsor, Senator Kiko Pangilina.
00:57The argument began when Cayetano questioned whether it was appropriate to side with PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore J. Tariela, after the latter created a caricature of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
01:11We cannot pass this resolution saying that Commodore Tariela is correct because he's wrong. If he just simply stated, I love the Philippines, I will fight for our territory, I'll fight for our sovereignty rights, I will do my duty but sorry.
01:26Dahil uminit ulo ko, nilabas ko ito pero hindi official yan. Tapos tayo.
01:31Cayetano further explained that as a government official, Tariela was in the raw. This led to a heated back and forth between Cayetano and Pangilina.
01:40Mr. President, I am not from China. Why will they put a meme? Why will your staff put a meme?
01:44No, it's not about China. It's about the forum.
01:46You're comparing apples and oranges, Mr. President. You are simplifying what is a complicated international...
01:55However, Pangilinan maintained that the resolution was not merely about the caricature.
02:00Just for the record also, the resolution does not make mention of the caricature. So I'm not sure where the point of the caricature is being pointed out.
02:16Cayetano retorted that Tariela should either apologize or resign from his post.
02:21But the guy should apologize and just say na, tama pinaglalabang ko pero mali na ginawa kong ganyan. Now, if he wants to do that, he resigns his commission. He can go around, he can join the media, he can be a blogger, he can be a professor.
02:36Senator Panghininan responded in defense.
02:38Pero itong mga bitiw na salita nila sa kanilang Facebook official pages ay hindi katanggap-taggap. Number one. Number two, kahit sa China, Mr. President, kinakaricture ang ating Pangulo.
02:50Dito naman tayo sa atin, Mr. President, suportahan naman natin yung ating Coast Guard. Sila tumataya dyan eh. At suportahan natin ang DND at ang ating men in uniform.
03:02Following the debate, Senate President Vicente Soto III suggested that the specific exchanges between the Chinese Embassy and the government officials be documented within the resolution.
03:12Before the resolution was passed, Senator Rodante Marcoleta also took the floor to clarify his previous statement regarding the surrender of the Kalayaan Island Group.
03:22Hindi ko po sinasabi na i-give up natin. I am only trying to reinforce the argument na hindi at imposible natin gawin.
03:31Sapagkat atin yung teritoryo, pero sa tubig, hindi po natin pwedeng itagos yung mga baselines dahil magkakasalan tayo at lalabag po tayo sa unclose mismo.
03:44Before the session concluded, the Senate officially adopted the resolution.
03:49Luisa Erispe from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
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