1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez (Dexter Barro II/MANILA BULLETIN)

Assistant Minority Leader 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez has taken exception to the supposed meddling of the Chinese government in Philippine politics, even as tensions between the two nations continue to rise in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

In a privilege speech Tuesday, April 30, Gutierrez took up the cudgels for Cagayan 3rd district Rep. Joseph Lara from accusations issued by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, for “inciting suspicion and hatred of China,” insinuating sinophobia, spreading fear of communism, and "hyping up China-Philippines maritime issues" in order to "serve their political agenda and self-interest".
 
“For the Chinese Embassy to issue a statement directly attacking the inquiry and the motives Congressman Lara has, is this the non-interference that China espouses?” he asked rhetorically.
 
“The Chinese Embassy would chalk this up to sinophobia, a resurgence of McCarthyism, and would attack and malign Congressman Lara's motives for the resolution,” the lawyer-legislator said, referring to House Resolution (HR) No.1666 Lara that authored. 

The measure seeks a House inquiry on the alleged influx of Chinese students in Cagayan, a region that hosts the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites.
 
“Why does the Embassy of China presume to have the authority to tell us, the representatives of the Filipino people, our motives? We take exception to this statement,” Gutierrez, a member of the "Young Guns" bloc, said.
 
“This statement and accusation (from China), was levied against Congressman Lara, a sitting representative of the people of third district of Cagayan,” he added, as he reminded Beijing that they are duly-elected by the people in their districts who have a mandate.
 
“It should be noted, that at issue here isn't any law passed by Congressman Lara. It isn't even a proposed bill. There is no government policy or program questioned. It was simply a resolution seeking an inquiry into what the good congressman sees as a cause of concern within his district.”
 
In his speech, Gutierrez clarified the Lara Resolution may not have been an entirely “accurate” one, or that all of the allegations he detailed in the total number of Chinese students in Cagayan schools were “100 percent true,” but that obviously was the rationale behind the House probe. 
 
“But if there is any truth to the claim, even a semblance, would this not warrant an investigation? Would this not be a national security concern? Is that not the whole point of an inquiry, to ferret out the truth and bolster our laws?” he asked in his impassioned speech.  
 
“Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. It does not require the most perceptive of minds to note an escalation of tension with our northern neighbor across the sea,” Gutierrez said.