The Philippines was the first democracy in Asia. Philippine Airlines was the first commercial airline in Asia. In the 1970s, the Philippines was a leader, not a follower, in the Asean.
In 2016, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio led the Philippine team that successfully secured the Philippines’ victory over China at The Hague, only for the Duterte administration to set the ruling aside.
China has put up military installations on islands it has seized, but the Philippine government has done nothing about it.
When the Philippine government wanted the Americans out of Subic and Clark, the Americans left.
The government has not requested that China give back what is rightly Philippine territory, and even if requested, the Chinese will not leave.
Once the Chinese Navy moves in, the Philippines is de facto occupied. Once the West Philippine Sea is surrounded by the Chinese Navy, the probability of war is high.
What is the Philippine government to do? Go to the free world and seek assistance?
My children are Filipino-Canadians; they can leave the country any time.
But what about other Filipinos who have been betrayed by the government?
“Freedom is not free,” as the Americans are fond of saying.
ROBERT SOMERVILLE,
Taguig City