(Eagle News)—Senator Leila de Lima lashed out at President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration anew, calling it a “puppet of China” for its “sell-out of the Philippines’ sovereignty and national patrimony.”
In a statement, De Lima noted what she said was the break in protocol during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit where he was allegedly welcomed as a “victorious conqueror.”
She said during the honor guard ceremony last Nov. 20, Malacañang allowed the Chinese flag to be displayed exclusively, without the Philippine presidential standard flag, and with Duterte “following meekly behind the Chinese President.”
“The purpose was to cement the Philippines’ inclusion into China’s sphere of influence, if not domination,” she said.
De Lima also noted the 29 agreements signed between the Philippines and China.
She said “the lender, China, is poised to exercise more control over the projects than in previous loan agreements with other countries.”
“This includes the utilization of China’s infrastructure resources, including employment of its technical personnel in the projects,” she said.
“Indeed, a nation can fight and resist invaders. But when its own President and public officials decide to sell the country for thirty pieces of silver, the betrayal is almost irreversible. The invader no longer needs to land its troops on our soil, when our own leaders are themselves the agents of the conqueror in our midst,” she added.
Relations between the Philippines and China have warmed since President Duterte assumed the helm of government in 2016.
Duterte has called China “a friend,” and opted to adopt a softer approach in the dispute with the Asian giant in the West Philippine Sea.
