Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana were one in calling out China for its militia vessels swarming Julian Felipe Reef, which is within our exclusive economic zone. China’s excuse was that its vessels were merely seeking refuge from bad weather.
Locsin and Lorenzana did not buy that, and told the intruders to leave. But Palace motormouth Harry Roque just could not help seeking the spotlight for himself. Without being asked, he joined the conversation with his own stunning takeaway on the issue: Julian Felipe Reef is not within our EEZ (and therefore China is free to do whatever it wants to do there)!
Who was this guy speaking for? China? No wonder Sen. Francis Pangilinan had to ask: “Is Roque getting his salary from China?” Chided by Locsin, Roque had the gall to insist that he would not stop shooting his mouth off. For the love of God and country, let Roque go already!
STEPHEN L. MONSANTO
lexsquare.firm@gmail.com