Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday said he is just awaiting an order to file a diplomatic protest against China over reports that about 220 Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted last March 7 at the Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
In a series of tweets, Locsin maintained that he will only “fire” once he gets the exact coordinates from National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and not from media reports.
“Still waiting for the orders to fire. I only listen to Generals; never media or an NTF (National Task Force) press release which amounts to nothing. Only a shot from DFA counts. Waiting for the coordinates and the order to fire, Generals Esperon and Lorenzana. I fire even on a Sunday,” he said.
On Saturday, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) expressed concern over the confirmed report from the Philippine Coast Guard about the presence of about 220 Chinese vessels which were reportedly sighted moored in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef.
“The NTF-WPS notes the circumstances as a concern due to the possible overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to the safety of navigation,” it said in a statement.
Locsin, however, dismissed the NTF-WPS press release as a mere “fairies warning,” saying that only he and President Duterte hold the key to filing a protest when told by both Esperon and Lorenzana.
“Yes but some idiots running for Senator want to be seen as on the ball in a game where they have no role: firing protest. The press release was just fairies warning. Only PRRD and I hold the artillery. We trust only 2 generals to say when and where to fire,” he said.
The NTF-WPS was created based on Memorandum Circular No. 94 signed on March 17, 2016, or about four months before the ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague came out in favor of the Philippine petition invalidating China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.