Eight days after the incident, President Duterte last night finally broke his silence on the reported collision between a Filipino and a Chinese vessel in the West Philippine Sea, saying it was just a “little” maritime incident.
Duterte, speaking at the 121st Philippine Navy anniversary celebration in Cavite, rejected suggestions to send Navy ships in the disputed waters, saying it was just a little maritime incident which he hinted should not be blown out of proportion.
“Pero ‘yang nangyari diyan sa banggaan, that is a maritime incident. ‘Wag kayong maniwala sa mga politiko na bobo, gusto papuntahin ‘yung Navy. You do not send gray ships there,” he said.
“Banggaan lang ng barko ‘yan, do not make it worse because that’s a fertile ground for…,” he added.
According to Duterte, one wrong move regarding the issue may trigger a nuclear war, something that the Philippines can never win.
“And we are not yet as ready, and we can never be ready in a nuclear war. Because in a nuclear war, kung bitawan lahat ‘yan, Earth will dry up and we will all be destroyed, and that is the end of everything,” he said.
“So yung tamang-tama lang pagdepensa sa atin. Bilhin ko lahat. Pero magsabi tayo ready, your guns are cut to go to war, that’s the most stupid thing I can…,” he added.
The President also said that the matter should be left to the investigators, adding that China’s side should also be heard.
“Maritime incident is a maritime incident. It is best investigated. And I do not now issue statement because there is no investigation and there is no result. Then the only thing we can do is to wait and give the other party the right to be heard. Importante ‘yan, eh,” Duterte said.
“Oh, China, marami ka man binigay, ano ba dito ang totoo? Oh tapos nag nangyari, ganito… Then let us sort, ano ang ma-sort natin diyan. Ano ang totoo bago tayo mag…,” he added.
Duterte said he will not risk dying in a losing battle coming from the tension in the disputed waters.
“Dalawang bangka lang ‘yan. Now you go there and create a tension. I said, hindi ako g**o na Presidente na papayag noon,” he said. “If we have to die, we must have to die in the correct way and to die with dignity. Hindi ‘yung basta bangga ka nang ka-bangga diyan,” he added. (Argyll Geducos)
