(Philippine Coast Guard)



House Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto has challenged rival world powers United States (US) and China to prove their supposed affection for the Philippines by flexing their might to respond to the disastrous Oriental Mindoro oil spill. Recto said in a statement Monday, April 17 that if Beijing and Washington are competing for Filipinos' affection, "then they should see the Mindoro oil spill as an opportunity for them to show their solidarity with us". “Each has made a declaration of supporting us. But what we need is an actual demonstration that will affirm their intention,” he said. “Kesa magbangayan kayo, pwede ba magtulungan muna dito? Ito totoong sakuna, hindi digmaan na kathang isip lamang (Instead of being at loggerheads, can't you cooperate on this first? This is a real disaster, not an imaginary war),” stressed the former Senate President Pro Tempore. Tensions have been high as of late between the US and China--owner of two of the world's largest economies and armies. Chinese air and naval forces have just completed what some have called "simulated attacks" on Taiwan; afterward, US troops and their Philippine counterparts launched the biggest Balikatan Exercises ever, and it's still ongoing. Despite this, Recto said he believes that the US and China can still work together to respond to the Philippine oil spill. "Even nations at loggerheads with each other, like the US and China, can 'work together in fighting a real ecological disaster instead of an imaginary enemy'," he said. When it comes to the oil spill, Recto said nations “are raring to test their manpower and equipment in real life, not tabletop, situation". “Sabi ng mga eksperto, maaga pa lang dapat humingi na ng tulong (Experts have said that we should've asked for help early),” he said, referring to the Feb. 28 sinking of the MT Princess Empress, which triggered the leak of 800,000 liters of industrial fuel in the local waters. Recto said if this month’s Balikatan Exercises in five provinces can mobilize 17,000 troops from three countries for a “mock war", then even a fraction of the personnel and logistics involved will be a great help “in battling a real, not simulated, ecological threat". He said the Philippines can bank on the “global humanitarian tradition” of helping a nation in distress “when its resources are overwhelmed by the challenges at hand".