ILIGAN City ― “I think PBBM is being ‘blackmailed’ by America into doing what he is doing now with regards to the West Philippine Sea.”
I was taken aback by what my good friend, Mike was saying. Especially the word “blackmail”. Which was sort of heavy.
So, I said, “Hey, what do you mean?”
“I mean what I said. And I am talking about these so-called Balikatan exercises. Which has become more aggressive now. With America and other countries now participating. Not to mention the EDCA sites increased.!”
Without batting an eyelash, I said, “Explain further.” We were then sitting at the edge of the city public plaza on the cemented seats ostensibly watching several persons busying with their wares as the Night Market was coming on a few hours.
You see, I remember that at the outset of his presidency, he said that this country is staying “neutral” or something like that, as regards the foreign policy.
Now he is leaning very much towards the US or Uncle Sam. And why is that? So that America will stop pressuring them for payment on a settlement due from the family on an American court decision regarding their cases involving human rights and several other cases. To the tune of 353 million dollars! That’s why.
“Oh,” I said. “Is that so? This is not in line with the prevailing sentiment of the people these days. that we shouldn’t take it sitting down China’s bullying acts in the West Philippine Sea, particularly the supply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal.”
“Well, the reports coming from the other side is that the ‘Agreement’ which I think is not necessarily that of ‘Gentleman’ really originated during the time of the presidency of Erap. That the said ship should be towed away from the Shoal.
Just like the BRP Benguet. Which was towed away from the area. But the BRP Sierra Madre couldn’t be towed because it was heavily stuck there and at the moment this government could not tow it away. And several presidents later, it was still there and even resupplied and repaired.”
“It was intentionally stuck, by this government,” I said, “to boost its claims on this watery body.”
“That’s another version of the story,” Mike said. “But the thing is, this is a fight between two powers, China and America. And we are just being used as a weapon by Uncle Sam. PBBM’s family has this decision that it coughs up with the amount.”
Yeah? Maybe if it accedes what America wants, it will forget the payable amount. For the moment, that is Even if it means making a pawn of this country.
Maybe that could be true? I mused. And I remembered two media practitioners here being awarded some amount that came from the cases they filed vs. the Marcoses. That was about two decades ago. Although I heard that some media persons who suffered under Marcos did not bother filing some cases, because, can they fight this kind of power during that time?
“If that’s the case, we can’t avoid this war between the two? What shall we do if that happens?” I said with all the hopelessness in my tone that I could muster.
And Mike just said: “Well, we can begin constructing bomb shelters now.” I couldn’t tell whether he was kidding or not.
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