00:00 The Chinese are now being bullied by the law-abiding citizens in the West Philippine Sea.
00:05 That's why the senators are advocating the existence of modern Philippine equipment.
00:12 Reported by Daniel Manalasta.
00:14 The Chinese Coast Guard's water cannon was seen in the video
00:20 on the Philippine Coast Guard's ship on August 5.
00:23 This is one of the real threats of the Chinese Coast Guard
00:27 against the Philippine Coast Guard's ship and the Filipino fishermen.
00:31 And one of the reasons why the senators want the government to focus
00:35 on the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
00:39 In a hearing earlier in the Senate,
00:41 Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri insisted
00:44 that it's important to buy new equipment for our soldiers.
00:48 We are just defending our sovereignty.
00:50 That's what's important to us.
00:54 That's our national anthem.
00:57 So we sing that every day.
00:59 And I hope now we will have to defend our shores.
01:04 We need to buy more ships.
01:06 We need to buy more frigates, more patrol boats.
01:11 We need to buy air force planes.
01:14 We need to buy missile systems.
01:17 The Philippines made a sudden move on the hearing
01:21 after the incident of the water cannon on the Philippine Coast Guard's ship.
01:26 The senators also insisted on what the Chinese Coast Guard is doing.
01:30 But the Department of National Defense insisted that they are doing something.
01:34 We will continue to condemn, Senator.
01:36 Until we file a diplomatic protest.
01:39 That is always falling in deaf ears.
01:44 Let's just pray to God.
01:48 Let's just pray that this is a mercy from God and it won't happen again.
01:54 Aside from the strong condemnation,
01:56 actually the counterpart, our DAFA in China
02:03 is also sending aggressive messages against the people in China
02:10 of the illegal actions.
02:12 In the middle of the hearing,
02:14 Senator Francis Tolentino shared information
02:17 about where the cadets are being sent
02:21 and if there are any military personnel to study in Beijing.
02:24 Maybe the words are Chinese when we come back here.
02:27 We will check and we will ask.
02:30 But is that true? Is that correct?
02:31 There are cadets there.
02:32 As we speak now.
02:33 I heard about it, Your Honor.
02:35 So, we will have generals who will graduate from Beijing.
02:40 What happens after the generals graduate from there,
02:42 they have a debt to China and that's where they learn
02:45 about Chinese influence and Chinese cultures.
02:48 Maybe in the end, they will forget to sing the national anthem of China.
02:54 This is very alarming.
02:56 This is a slap in the face.
02:57 China is bullying us and yet our military personnel have nothing to do.
03:02 And now, our military personnel can't face China.
03:06 So, we send our staff to China to study.
03:09 I agree. Totally agree, Your Honor.
03:11 I was given a note a while ago.
03:14 Only CGSE and MNSA counterparts were available by officers of the Armed Forces.
03:21 I have to check if there are cadets.
03:24 Senator Robin Hood Badilla clearly stated in the Constitution
03:28 that it is necessary to have a time limit.
03:31 Our fellow countrymen who joined the military service,
03:36 because we are all complaining.
03:39 "China is bullying us. They poured water on us."
03:42 We are cheap in words. We lack in actions.
03:45 Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri helped US Senator Tommy Duckworth in the Senate.
03:52 According to Zubiri, the US Senator was sent to the back of the United States
03:57 for his longest-standing treaty ally when it comes to protecting our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
04:04 According to House Committee on Constitutional Amendments Chairperson Rufus Rodriguez,
04:09 our embassy in Beijing, China should be downgraded as a protest against what happened.
04:15 The Philippine Ambassador should also be replaced there
04:19 because of the silent response to the incident.
04:22 According to DND, they are in favor of returning the mandatory ROTC.
04:27 Many have said that they support it.
04:29 But until now, it has not been approved by the two branches of Congress.
04:34 Daniel Manalastas for the nation.
