Who believes them, says Teodoro on China claim PH ship dumping garbage in Ayungin Shoal

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday trashed China’s recent accusation that the Philippine Navy ship anchored on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has been damaging the marine ecosystem by burning garbage and dumping waste into the open sea. Chinese media outlets released a video of what they claim to be the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) with crew on board seen burning items on the deck. The video later focused on a supposed Philippine Coast Guard vessel whose crew were caught throwing what seems to be trash into the sea. Chinese daily Chinadaily.com also reported that the “latest incident is not an isolated case” and that “It is yet another exposure of the Philippines' long-term pollution of the ecosystem around Ren'ai Reef” — China’s name for Ayungin Shoal. “Maniwala ka naman dyan sa mga ‘yan. Eh accuse ng accuse ‘yang mga ‘yan eh. O kung may accusation sila prebahan nila, bakit lahat ng accusation nila e ayaw nilang prebahan,” Teodoro said on the sidelines of the Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Yultong at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. (They keep accusing. If they have an accusation then prove it, why can’t they prove all of their accusations?) “Nung tayo ang nademanda sa arbitral tribunal. Magagaling lang yan sa ganyan, pag oras na kailangang prebehan na nila sa isang patas, patas ha na proceeding na sa ilalim ng internal law ayaw nila,” he said. (When we filed a case [against them] at the arbitral tribunal, they were only good at [accusing]. The moment they need to substantiate [their claim] in a fair proceeding, under international law, they don’t want to.) Teodoro said he has yet to see the actual video but stressed that it was China who would spread false and deceptive narratives. “I don’t know what video they’re pushing. Who likes to fake? Who likes to copy?” he said.

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