Former Surigao del Norte Representative and Governor Robert Ace Barbers has dismissed statements made by Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan claiming that China loves peace, describing the diplomat’s comments as a big joke.
Barbers issued the sharp critique following public statements from the envoy regarding China’s peaceful intentions in the region.
“Are we supposed to thank Mr. Quan, be relieved, relaxed and reassured by those remarks? We have been bullied for years by them, in the waters of the West Philippine Sea. They have water cannoned our fishermen, coast guard and the civilian boats delivering supplies to our soldiers stationed at the Sierra Madre naval ship. They have hacked our soldiers with machetes, run over the boats of fishermen and rammed our ships. It is so sweet of Mr. Quan to describe these actions as peace loving. I am deeply touched, really, totally charmed and disarmed,” Barbers said.
The former lawmaker accused the envoy of abusing diplomatic hospitality and disrespecting the nation.
“Not having satisfied himself enough, he now threatens to kick us out of our house while mocking and forcing us to be grateful to him instead for not having done so yet. If we just swallow his “tongue-in-tsik” posturing, we have no business calling ourselves free Filipinos. We might as well close shop and surrender our dignity with open arms and open legs, and plead for them to rape our land and thank them for it,” Barbers added.
Barbers also directed criticism at political figures and lawmakers for failing to publicly speak out against the ambassador’s remarks.
“I am also not surprised that the DDS and the Tsina-tors are firmly exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right to remain silent in the face of this most blatant and in-your-face challenge of sovereignty by Mr. Quan. Maybe they are thinking that breaking their silence would be tantamount to “bending” the law and the constitution. If I may ask, whose constitution would that be, if ever. But then again there is a saying that goes … “silence is golden”. Being golden may also mean that … mahal yun,” Barbers also said.