Words are cheap. Angry and portentous talks could lead to costly disasters which may not give anyone the slightest chance to regret.
This is best illustrated in the current controversy over the renewed and escalated word war between Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ ilks and Ambassador Jing Quan, made worse by senators and House lawmakers who think their bravado proves they are brave.
Reacting to incendiary talks from Defense Sec. Gibo Teodoro and the garrulous Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, Ambassador Jing said the Philippines does not need to choose between China and the United States and should instead settle maritime disputes via peaceful bilateral talks. In a corollary statement he pointed out: “If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force. We love peace.”
The knee-jerk reaction of Gibo, Tarriela, and the belligerent legislators who love to bask under TV klieg lights, was to escalate Jing’s statement into an armed conflict, demanding that China’s diplomat be declared “persona non grata” and ousted from the Philippines. From retirement as AFP Chief of Staff, civilian Romeo Brawner echoed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is “one of the most experienced armed forces around the world.” He forgot that Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete is now the Chief of Staff.
Amidst the brouhaha, Ambassador Jing and the Chinese Embassy explained that the comment was intended to show “China’s restraint and preference for peaceful dialogue amid ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.”
This is the problem when the Department of National Defense subsumes the functions of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the failure of the Executive Department to manage the controversy and bang the gavel to silence those speaking on matters which are not their expertise.
Add to that the seething demand of Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, whose eyes are jumping out of sockets in misplaced anger, and Senators Erwin Tulfo and Risa Hontiveros who want Jing out pronto.
What will be the consequences if the demands of these characters are followed?
There are extremely serious impacts, but let us point out a few:
Thousands of OFWs and undocumented Filipino workers in mainland China and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau will be sent home.
No more big-spending Chinese tourists.
Stoppage of trade — goodbye electronics parts, Philippine bananas and pineapples, cheap fertilizers for farmers.
Cut-off of China’s refined oil exports to the Philippines.
No more cheap / concessional loans.
No more free bridges as gifts from China.
Now think how the Marcos government will address these complex problems. PBBM cannot just scratch his head and say: “Bakit tayo nagkakaganito? Ano ang gagawin natin?”
The possible answer can be equated to his solution for the impending severe hot season whipped up by El Niño: “Bumili na kayo ng balde.”
Repeat: BALDE!
PBBM gave the nation a PhD-level hydrological solution: Problem: El Niño. Solution: Balde. Budget: P89.75 at SM Ace Hardware.
Or let the problem solve itself.
So bereft is the Marcos government in terms of solutions and accomplishments to report to the nation, it shamelessly claims Davao City’s projects as its legacy.
When his balde drought idea was ridiculed, he lost no time in boasting about the Davao City Water District bulk water project as his banner accomplishment. Truth is, the national government did not spend a single centavo on the mega project. The financial burden of about P13-billion was shouldered by DCWD and its JV partner, Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc.
The BWP is not the only Davao City project claimed by this administration.
Just last week, Marcos went on national TV to boast of the transport modernization project — fielding China-made Yutong electric buses to replace Jurassic jeepneys. One of the centerpiece projects of then City Mayor Sara Duterte, the first 10 EV buses now ply various routes in the city offering free rides. The city government, now in the big league of highly urbanized cities, exclusively funded the purchase, including 20 more units arriving this December.
A few months ago, BBM hied off to Davao City and strutted on the newly constructed Bucana Bridge. His propagandists crowed it is a Marcos legacy. No one among his subalterns cautioned him that the P3.1-billion Davao River bridge is a gift from China and was constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). The bridge is part of the Davao City Coastal Boulevard, with a much bigger budget of P28.26-billion.
All these, including the Davao City-Samal Island connector — a 5-kilometer bridge flagship under the “Build, Build, Build” program of former President Rodrigo Duterte — are being constructed by CRBC and funded through a concessional loan agreement with the Chinese government amounting to about P23-billion through Official Development Assistance (ODA).
Marcos, who through his spokesperson branded Davao City as the most dangerous city in the Philippines, has made the city the display center of his administration’s accomplishments. It is the height of irony.
Davao City has become a top tourist destination, dubbed the 3rd most peaceful city in Southeast Asia, and now a prime destination for domestic and foreign investments. In no other time have foreign diplomats visited than now, the most recent being US Ambassador Lee Lipton.
They must be intrigued why, despite the denigration by the phalanx of Malacañang propagandists, the city made it to the honor rolls of Oxford Economics as top achiever in infrastructure and public services, and despite the derogation of Vice President Sara Duterte through impeachment.
I can only surmise they are intrigued by the brand and standard of leadership of the Dutertes. The visits could be part of how and what the Philippines will be in case of leadership change — and they know who and where the next leader is coming from.
So, to DND Sec. Gibo Teodoro and to Tarriela, I conclude with a message from UP Prof. Clarita Reyes Carlos, political scientist and former National Security Adviser, to Tarriela in particular: “xxx shut the f*ck up, Tarriela… get a duct tape and cover your mouth.”
