Gibo Defends Call for Pro-China Officials to Resign

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. defended yesterday his call for the resignation of government officials siding with China, underscoring there is no option but to uphold the country’s policy on the West Philippine Sea (WPS). He said the officials who disagree and refuse to uphold the WPS policy may question it before the courts or resign from their posts. Teodoro clarified his earlier statement – that public officials, especially those elected into office, should consider resigning for siding with China and not supporting the Philippine position – is drawn from an administrative order concerning the WPS that forms part of the law. Teodoro cited Administrative Order 29, issued in 2012 and signed by then president Benigno Aquino III, that officially renamed the waters west of the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea. This includes parts of the South China Sea that are within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, areas where the country has special rights to use and protect resources. AO 29 highlights the Philippines’ ownership and control over these waters and requires the name “West Philippine Sea” to be used in official maps and documents. “If a public official cannot uphold these, then the duty is clear! Uphold or file an action to declare the rule or law unconstitutional. Until that time there is no option but to uphold the law. If a public official cannot conform to these requisites then the only option is to resign,” he added. Officials who oppose this move, he said, should clearly state their position so they would “have left a mark in our history.” He blamed fake news attempting to frame his statements. “Fake news once again has reared its ugly head,” Teodoro said. “Before I lay down any statement, I carefully lay down my premises. Hence, please do not rely on headlines which attempt to frame my statements. To do so would be an injustice to our people and to patriotic Filipinos.”