Senate deputy minority leader Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, August 7 said the government should ban the Chinese Communications Construction Co. (CCCC), and its subsidiaries, from operating in the Philippines.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros (Senate PRIB Photo)

Hontiveros made the call a day after the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) blocked and water cannoned Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels that were delivering supplies to Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal.

“China is not a friend. She is not even a good neighbor. Hindi tayo papayag na wala tayong gawin habang inaabuso at inaalipusta niya ang ating mga kababayan sa sarili nating karagatan (We will not allow that we do nothing while they abuses and insults our countrymen in our own waters),” Hontiveros said.

“Banning one of their state-owned companies is a way to tell China that we will not tolerate any abuse anymore,” the senator further said.

Hontiveros recalled that even then former finance secretary Carlos Dominguez terminated the loan application process for major CCCC-funded projects like the Davao-Digos Rail segment, the Calamba-Matnog long haul rail, and the Subic-Clark Rail during the administration of then President Rodrigo Duterte.

Under the current administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., loan negotiations have resumed.

Hontiveros said that it is in the interest of the Philippines to decline any CCCC-funding as well.

“There is no unique advantage to having Chinese banks and Chinese contractors being involved in these mega projects. One might even argue that the ADB or Japan, and maybe even the Philippine private sector, will be a better match for these projects,” she said.

“If the Tutuban-to-Clark rail is based on Japanese technology and ADB environmental and social safeguards, we might as well choose them for other connected projects.

“Why was that given to China? Why give a company with a history of destroying our natural resources to West Philippine Sea (WPS)?” Hontiveros added.

Just recently, the United States (US) Embassy earlier questioned the ongoing Manila Bay Reclamation Project in Manila as it involved the CCCC which they reminded had contributed to the dredging and construction of artificial militarized islands in the WPS.

The US has already blacklisted the CCCC, supposedly for “engaging in fraudulent business practices.”

Hontiveros had made the call for the government to drop projects with CCCC since 2020 after it was revealed it was among the dozens of companies that contributed to the construction of the militarized islands.

“The CCCC is a predatory company. It works in conjunction with the Chinese maritime militia to deliberately destroy coral reefs in the WPS and poach endangered giant clams,” she said.

“It acts in the guise of a legitimate business, but it is only aiding the Chinese state in its creeping invasion. Kasabwat siya sa pagnanakaw ng ating mga teritoryo sa WPS. Dapat lang na palayasin na sa bansa (They are in cahoots in stealing our territories in the WPS. They should be driven out of the country),” the opposition senator said.

The Executive should also look into existing government projects with the CCCC and stop any engagements as soon as possible.

“The President should simultaneously summon the Chinese Ambassador and take him to task about his country’s disgraceful behavior,” she said.