Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said China will get an earful from the Philippine government if it would be proven that Chinese vessels were indeed dumping waste, including human waste, in the West Philippine Sea.
Roque made the statement after some senators said China’s “disrespect” towards the Philippines will continue if President Duterte will not assert the country’s rights in the disputed waters.
In his press briefing on Thursday, July 15, Roque reiterated that the government was still verifying the report and that an official statement would be made after the process.
However, he made it clear that President Duterte will not allow any country to treat the Philippines as its wastebasket or toilet.
“Bini-verify po muna ang reports bago tayo magsalita pero ang posisyon po natin pagdating sa pagpasok ng dumi at basura ay malinaw (We’re still verifying the report before making a statement but our position on the entry of waste and trash is clear),” Roque said.
“Sa administrasyon po ni Presidente Duterte, pinabalik po ang basura na tinapon sa atin ng bansang Canada (Under President Duterte’s administration, we sent back the trash that was shipped here by Canada),” he added.
However, Roque said that if the human waste dumped in the West Philippine Sea could not be sent back, if verified to be true, China should expect an earful from the government.
“Kung mapapatunayan po ‘yan, kung hindi mapapabalik ang duming iyon, eh talaga naman pong makakarinig sila ng mga maaanghang na salita at isang babala na dapat itigil ‘yan (If this would be proven and we can send the waste back, they will hear strong words from the government and a warning that they should stop doing that),” he said.
“Hindi nga po kubeta ang Pilipinas ng kahit na sino (The Philippines is not anybody’s toilet),” he added.
'Impeach Duterte? Go ahead'
Meanwhile, Roque dared those eyeing the President's impeachment over his policies on the West Philippine Sea to go ahead with their plans.
"Go ahead, impeach him if you can," he said.
He explained that other countries being able to fish in the Scarborough Shoal was not Duterte's fault.
"Pero ang pangingisda sa Scarborough, hindi ang Presidente ang nagdesisyon diyan (Fishing activities being allowed in the Scarborough Shoal was not the President's decision)," Roque said.
"Ang nagdesisyon diyan ang Arbitral Tribunal... So huwag niyo pong sisihin ang Presidente (It was decided by the Arbitral Tribunal so don't blame the President)," he added.