Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues to urge the government, particularly the Department of Migrant Workers, to closely monitor the development of the growing tensions between Taiwan and China in order to prepare for necessary contingency measures to protect Filipinos in the area.
In an ambush interview on Wednesday, April 12 during the relief operation for fire victims in Parañaque City, Go expressed his concern that the livelihoods of over 150,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are currently based in Taiwan may be at risk, underscoring the need for the government to make certain that necessary support are ready for them.
“The safety and the welfare of our kababayans should be the priority of our government. Alam nyo po, mahigit 150,000 na mga OFWs ang nasa Taiwan at unahin po natin ang safety nila at kapakanan nila,” underscored Go.
“Gaya po ng sinabi ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte during the UN General Assembly in 2020, ‘when elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled flat.’ Alam n’yo sa sitwasyong ito, malapit ang lugar natin sa Taiwan. Sa sitwasyong ito, ang Pilipinas po ang damo. Tayo po ang kawawa kung mag-aaway ang dalawang higanteng ito,” he cited.
Over the weekend, China simulated a three-day air and sea drill, dubbed as the “Joint Sword” drills, around the Taiwan Strait. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the said military exercises were meant to be a “stern warning to the provocative activities of Taiwan independence secessionist forces and their collusion with external forces.”
“Tiwala naman po ako sa ating gobyerno. Tiwala po ako kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na uunahin po n’ya ang interes ng ating mga kababayan (at) interes ng ating bansa at sana po ay ang magiging polisiya natin ay ‘friends to all, enemy to none’,” Go urged.
“Mas maganda na pong friend to all tayo at enemy to none. Mahirap na tayo pang madamay. Ang Pilipino gusto lang pong mamuhay nang tahimik. Importante, ‘yung kalusugan at buhay ng bawat OFW na nasa Taiwan na maaaring madamay kung sakaling magkagulo doon,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, when asked if the said issue will create a new conflict in regards to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), Go expressed that the government must prioritize what is best for Filipinos.
“Gaya ng sinabi ko, unahin muna natin ang interes ng ating mga kababayan and I’m sure hindi naman po papayag siguro ang ating gobyerno at ating militar na magagamit tayo o maiipit tayo kung saka-sakali,” Go expressed.
“Ako naman, bilang isa sa mga senador, kung saka-sakaling kailangan nating magsalita sa tamang panahon, unahin muna natin kapakanan ng Pilipino,” he asserted.