Two House leaders on Thursday dismissed Vice President Sara Duterte’s denial of being pro-China, saying her record speaks louder than her words as they backed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “pro-Philippines” foreign policy.
House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union and Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun of Zambales, whose provinces have been directly affected by Chinese aggression in the WPS, issued the remarks after Vice President Duterte rejected claims that she was aligned with any foreign power, saying she is “not pro any country at all.”
“We agree with what Undersecretary Claire Castro said. The President is pro-Philippines. The Dutertes, as we’ve all seen, are pro-China. The Vice President can keep denying it, but her record speaks for itself,” Ortega said.
He pointed to the repeated refusal of the Vice President to support the country’s legal victory in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and her past silence on Chinese incursions as “more than enough proof” of where her loyalties lie.
“As China encroaches on our territory, the Vice President’s response is mostly silence. And if there is a statement, it is to blame the leadership. That’s not neutrality; that’s evasion,” Ortega said.
“She can deny it all she wants, but the facts are clear. Her silence on Chinese incursions and her criticisms of the President’s foreign policy direction have long aligned with Beijing’s interests,” he added.
Khonghun warned that Duterte’s refusal to take a firm stand emboldens foreign encroachment and creates confusion among Filipinos.
“Honestly, you can’t say ‘you’re not pro any country’ while China is targeting our fishermen and countrymen. Your silence is as loud as your partisanship,” he said.
Khonghun also said the Vice President’s vague and inconsistent statements weaken the Philippines’ position on the global stage.
“When the Vice President himself is not clear whose side she is on, our fight is weak. It only further weakens the position of the Philippines in the face of foreign abusers,” he said.
Both lawmakers stressed that in a time of heightened regional tensions, the public deserves clarity and courage from national leaders, not mixed signals.
“President Marcos has drawn the line. He is pro-Philippines. We expect the rest of our leaders, especially those in high office, to do the same,” Ortega said.
