Palace backs Gibo on pro-China execs’ resignation

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang sees nothing wrong with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro’s call for the resignation of state officials siding with China on the West Philippine Sea issue.

“This is not an issue of loyalty. All of us Filipinos – our hearts, beliefs and battle – should solely be for the Philippines,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said yesterday.

Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte earlier accused Teodoro of “demonizing” China and supposedly imposing a loyalty test on Filipinos.

Officials disagreeing and refusing to uphold the country’s WPS policy can question it before the courts or resign from their posts, Teodoro said earlier.

Duterte’s remarks are “very alarming,” Castro said, as it “suggests that his loyalty to the Philippines is wavering.”

Over the weekend, China condemned the Philippines’ baseline of territories, claiming Manila violated the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Philippines’ submission with the UN Secretariat of the official nautical chart of Panatag Shoal and its surrounding maritime zones is in accordance with Philippine law, the 2016 Arbitral Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Castro emphasized.

Meanwhile, after over a month in Honolulu, Hawaii for the world’s largest maritime warfare exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)’s BRP Gabriela Silang and its 100 personnel are heading home.

Gabriela Silang departed yesterday from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.

Aside from the United States Coast Guard, the PCG was the only coast guard organization that joined the exercise.

BRP Miguel Malvar represented the Philippine Navy.

The other participating countries are Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

Gabriela Silang is expected in Manila on Aug. 18. — Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee-Brago, Andrew Ronquillo

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