Rodante Marcoleta backtracked. Bato dela Rosa backtracked too.
Was it because Marcoleta saw the West Philippine Sea issue as his salvation among the electorate? He currently trails somewhere along the 30th to 40th place in the surveys of senatoriables (emphasis on somewhere). His hopes are dim of making it to the magic 12.
Dela Rosa has gained points by entering the top 12. He used to land from 13th to 15th in the polls. Does he now think the West Philippine Sea issue is the way to sustain his poll standing?
But if both had backtracked, what were they before their reversals? They were traitors. Marcoleta openly laid bare his Red China loyalties, true to his sect the Iglesia ni Cristo. The INC has been pro Red Chinese hegemony, mouthing its 10-dash line. Dela Rosa was, for six years under Duterte, tangibly unspeaking on the Red Chinese incursions and oppression on Filipino fisherfolk in the WPS.
Among all the countries of the world, Red China is the least trusted among Filipinos, with 51% among 1,200 polled expressing disapproval in October 2023. It rose tremendously from just 36% in July 2022. Red Chinese bullying in the West Philippine Sea is an issue. Suddenly, traditional politicians have changed their sound bytes because it is campaign time.
Rodrigo Duterte’s servility to Red China was an instrument of betrayal to the Filipino cause for sovereignty, done in broad daylight and tolerated by many in the name of populism. As we are on the threshold of another election, the question must be asked with gravity — Who among the senatorial candidates will advance the treasonous stance of Dutertismo?
One of them is Rodante Marcoleta. He said in the House of Representatives that the West Philippine Sea was non-existent. It was a hearing on disinformation and fake news. His statement was the fake news.
He should have addressed his fake news to former Indonesian president Joko Widodo. In 2017, Indonesia changed the name of its sovereign waters disputed by Red China, as the new North Natuna Sea. Like the West Philippine Sea, the North Natuna Sea is defined within the country’s exclusive economic zone. Does it have international bearing? In a paper published by the Monaco-based International Hydrographic Organization that has responsibility for the standardization of maritime geographical names, the IHO contended:
“Names applied within the territorial limits of a State should be recognized by other States” (Annex 3 Guidelines, D). The principle being that, “sea names represent the transfer of terrestrial toponymy to the maritime realm,” as for example, the sea west of the Philippines.
The name West Philippine Sea does not lie in a whirlpool to get lost at sea as in the mind of Marcoleta. It was officially declared by the Philippine national government as Administrative Order No. 29 on September 5, 2012. The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) has been publishing maps and navigational charts reflecting this nomenclature. See the length and breadth of a politician’s treason just because he believes in Rodrigo Duterte?
The other traitor who wants to be in the senate again is Dela Rosa. In six years under Duterte, there were harassments by the China Coast Guard against Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal (the entrance of which was blocked by the CCG; September to November 2016), Bataan fishermen chased by the CCG while they were fishing at Union Bank (April 2017), reclamation activities on features within the WPS (February 2018), Red Chinese navy chopper harassment of a Philippine Navy rubber boat’s resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal (May 11, 2018), Red Chinese bombers landing and taking off at its artificial islands in the WPS (May 19, 2018), CCG seizing the catch of Filipino fisherfolk (June 2018), journalists of GMA News barred by the CCG from taking videos near Panatag Shoal (November 22, 2018), the sinking of a Filipino vessel by a Red Chinese vessel that left 22 fisherfolks at the mercy of the elements (June 2019), etc.
The list is even longer, because that is how long it took Bato dela Rosa in his valiant image, to claim that he is not pro Red China: “I am willing to wage war in the West Philippine Sea.” But akin to Duterte’s jetski, he will not. For traitors do not do beyond their rhetoric. Only that it is campaign time and he needs your vote. “Too late the hero,” says Akbayan’s Rafaela David.
During World War II, the traitors were the Makapilis who hid their identities by covering their heads with bayong whenever they point to Filipino guerillas before the Japanese invading army. Today we have modern-day Makapilis who want to be senators. “Wala ka mang suot na bayong sa ulo, bistado na ang karakas mo. Hindi ka kakampi ng masang Pilipino sa West Philippine Sea,” David added.
Let us call them by what they are — Makapili traitors: Marcoleta, Bong Go, Dela Rosa and Willie Revillame who cover their heads under Duterte’s skirt. And the swindled Filipino voter, trolled over by Sasot and company, lied to by fake news, drugged immobile by Red Chinese druglords in cahoots with the Davao Group, robbed by POGOs, deprived of food on the table by huge confidential funds, and duped by fake malasakit, say Duterte and his men vying for the senate love this country.
Remember the West Philippine Sea because even in voting we assert our sovereignty.
The views in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of VERA Files.
