Don't be unwitting pawns in territorial dispute with China

We caution Filipinos against being unwitting pawns in what could possibly be a politically motivated show of force of China in their excursions into the Scarborough Shoal.

We should not allow our country to be unwittingly drawn into the escalating tensions over the Scarborough Shoal. We must tread very carefully. China is currently embroiled in a leadership scandal at the highest levels of the Communist Party. The current tension in the West Philippine Sea could become a very convenient diversion by fanning the flames of nationalist fanaticism in China.

We should not allow ourselves to become scapegoats in a brewing internal controversy. We must exercise utmost restraint.

Pambabraso ng Tsina, di naman nararapat

Hindi natin maintindihan ang pagmamayabang at pambabraso ng bansang Tsina.

Ang pahayag ng kanilang ambassador ay nakakalungkot at nakakabahala. Para manggaling ang mga salitang ito mula sa pangalawa sa pinakamalaking ekonomiya sa mundo ay tunay na nakakapagpabagabag. Ang pagpupumilit nilang kinakailangan pang humingi ng pahintulot sa kanila ang ibang bansa para makapaglayag sa pinagtatalunang tubig ay kayabangan na hindi kinakailangan kung tunay na lahat tayo ay naghahanap ng mapayapang paraan ng pagsosolusyon sa problemang ito. Sila na mismo ang nagsabi na mapayapang paraan ang nais nila ngunit iba ang ipinapakita nila sa mga pahayag na ganito.

Hindi natin dapat hayaang brasuhin tayo ninuman. Ang Pilipinas ay may mahabang kasaysayan pagdating sa kalayaan at pag-aalsa laban sa mga nagnanais bawiin mula sa atin nito. Hindi natin kailanman hahayaan, maging ang malalaking bansa, na brasuhin tayo at gawin tayong sunod-sunuran sa kanilang kagustuhan.

In mourning, let us examine ourselves

We mourn the passing of our fellow countrymen. Our hearts go out to their loved ones. In light of this painful event, I call on our colleagues in government to do what we can to modernize our economy so that our people would seek gainful employment here at home rather than elsewhere. Hindi sana nangyari ito kung hindi na nila kinailangan pang sumugal sa kapalaran sa ibang bansa.

In addition we need to go after heartless illegal recruiters, corrupt immigration officials, and drug traffickers who operate with impunity in our country. Our fellow countrymen is being used as drug mules is just the tip of the iceberg, so they say. The bigger issue facing us is an inept justice system and an economy that cannot support its population. Let this be our motivation to give our people what they truly deserve: a just and progressive Philippines.