Padilla was asking if it was appropriate for an American Navy plane to be present in the West Philippine Sea, the source of conflict between the Philippines and China, when it was the PCG and the CCG going head to head.
What Padilla got wrong – and seemingly refused to believe – was that China’s structure was different. The CCG, since 2018, has been under China’s Central Military Commission. It used to be under Beijing’s State Oceanic Administration.
“‘Wag natin ibahin ang international law… ang coast guard ay civilian in nature, police nga yan eh… sinasabi po ba natin na ang coast guard ng China ay hindi civilian in nature?” Padilla had asked just moments prior.
Maritime expert lawyer Jay Batongbacal would tell Padilla and the rest of the hearing that no such international law to define a coast guard exists. Senator Ronald dela Rosa, despite Batongbacal’s explanation, would later insist that it was a “universally accepted concept” that coast guards are civilian forces.
I usually defend Robin from haters because he does try to submit some contentious bills that we sorely need, but moments like this just make it difficult to stick up for him.
Parang feeling ko yung nakiki clout siya sa pag push ng medical cannabis e para di siya mapagiwanan…
They said the same thing when he pushed for same-sex marriage. That he’s only doing it to appease the LGBT community. Except the math doesn’t work because there are more Catholics and conservatives in the country that he’s sure to lose by supporting the bill. Heck, he already alienated some members of the Muslim community (his primary voter base) by doing it.
I’m going with Occam’s Razor here: He’s filing bills that I like so I’m supporting him regardless what his name is. If fucking Bato or Cynthia Villar does the same, they’ll get flowers from me — but they don’t, so fuck em.
