Not Worried
Malacanang recently announced that President Rodrigo Duterte is not in the least worried about reports that he might be impeach for his statement that China could fish in our waters since they are our friends.
The confidence of Malacanang is of course rooted in the fact that most of the elected congressmen and their parties are allied with and part of the so called super majority.
Whether the President has committed a violation a provision of the Constitution is not actually the issue should he be impeached but the outcome will be dependent upon the super majority on whether they will even entertain such a proceeding against the President that they are supporting.
Palace Spokesman Salvador Panelo already made it clear in his statements to the media that the impeachment proceedings, should there be one, is a numbers game and right now the President
can rely on the super majority to defend him.
Panelo even went further in saying that the members of the super majority in the House of Congress are in “awe” at Duterte’s actions.
However that is not what should concern us but the perception that the President and his administration are not in the least alarmed on the gradual and almost imperceptible encroachment by China into Philippine territory.
Just take a look at the reefs and banks at the West Philippine Sea that they have reclaimed and converted into alleged nonmilitary maritime facilities, but which they are now populating with armaments and fighter jets, according to latest reports.
Also, under the build, build, build program of the Duterte administration it is China who is in the forefront of every big project, providing funds, logistics and even in some instances the workforce.
China does not need to invade the country. They have already done so.
We understand and commiserate with the President when he said that he had the welfare of the people of the Philippines in his mind when he continues to make peaceful overtures to China knowing that any armed military confrontation with the “aggressive dragon” in Asia will surely result in terrible and agonizing consequences for our people.
That is also why our very own military is doing everything possible to speed up its modernization program in order to augment both is defensive and offensive capabilities.
We are at the stage where we are assessing and evaluating our capabilities to resist the silent invasion being conducted by China not only here in the Philippines but in other countries as well, under its “One Belt, One Road” policy.
We have to remember that China has not really denied its intention for world domination both in economic and military terms. This is human nature where the strong seeks to become stronger.
We can only hope that the President really knows what he is doing in order to protect and promote the interests of our people and country.
Panagbabagyo manen Kayong!
July 1, 2019