FORT MAGSAYSAYSAY, Palayan City – The government has washed its hands of the worldwide protest which several groups plan to stage next week to condemn China’s supposed “incursion” in Ayungin Reef, 105 miles of Palawan.
Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin maintained that the government keeps its hands off the protest.
Gazmin graced the change of command of the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division here from Maj. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang to Brig. Gen. Hernando Iriberri at the command ground in this vast military reservation.
“It is their right to do that,” Gazmin said of groups led by the US-based Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) that set the protest on July 24 to protest China’s alleged expansionism.
“Walang kinalaman, ang alam ko, walang kinalaman ang gobyerno sa protestang isinasagawa nila,” Gazmin said.
Anakbayan Rep. Walden Bello has said his group is joining the July 24 mass action in the Philippines and will encourage its supporters throughout the world to join in global actions to denounce China’s provocative actions in the Ayungin Reef.
“China seized the Philippines’ Mischief Reef in 1994, then our Scarborough Shoal last year,” stated Loida Nicolas Lewis, the national chair of USP4GG and former national chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).
“This year, China is set to invade and occupy the Ayungin Reef. We refuse to accept China’s expansionist agenda.”
Gazmin said the government has not ceased protecting its territory.
“We’re taking care of our territory, ‘yung mga maabot ng ating makakaya,” he said. “Yung ating mga luma nang gamit, although luma na, ‘yun ang ginagamit natin upang mabantayan natin at makita natin kung mayroong pag-aabuso sa ating teritoryo,” he said.
