MANILA — Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon outlined on Tuesday what he described as the standard talking points used by pro-China personalities and alleged agents in the Philippines regarding the West Philippine Sea issue.
Sharing his insights, Ridon noted that these narratives are primarily designed to generate fear among the public by leaning on worst-case scenarios concerning bilateral ties.
“Tauhan ka ng China kung ito ang sinasabi mo: a. Handa ba ang Pilipinas sa giyera? b. Handa ba ang Pilipinas mawalan ng negosyo mula sa China? c. Handa ba ang Pilipinas kung pauwiin ang mga OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) na nasa China, Hong Kong at Macau?” Ridon wrote.
According to the lawmaker, this rhetoric holds little merit because Beijing consistently frames the maritime dispute as a minor component of its broader diplomatic relationship with Manila.
“Ang laging sinasabi ng China, maliit na bahagi lang ng kabuuang relasyon ng China at Pilipinas ang usapin sa [WPS],” he stated, further asking, “So papaanong magkakagiyera, mawawalan ng negosyo at mapapauwi ang mga OFWs kung tumindig ang mga Pilipino para sa Pilipinas?”
”Tauhan ka ng China kasi ikaw lang ang naniniwalang mangyayari lahat ng mga panakot na iyan,” Ridon added, stressing that such intimidation tactics rely entirely on unwarranted panic.
The representative previously floated the need for a House of Representatives probe into potential links between pro-China and pro-Duterte online networks, suggesting they may operate under a unified propaganda machinery.
“Bubuuin lang ho namin yung pong resolution, pero yun po yung tunguhin po nito: pag-aralan po yung Duterte propaganda networks at yun pong pro-China propaganda networks,” the lawmaker said.