MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. fired back at those who expressed doubts that the government had indeed filed diplomatic actions against China.
READ: Chinese sea militia swarms around Pag-asa Island – military
Locsin stressed that he filed note verbales, or diplomatic notes, against China over the reported presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels surrounding Pag-Asa Island in the South China Sea before his China trip in March.
“I sent notes verbales versus swarming before my China trip. You have my word on it, and that is all you all get,” he said in a tweet on Tuesday.
“Manigas na kayo nag da doubt pa,” he added.
I sent notes verbales versus swarming before my China trip. You have my word on it and that is all you all get. Manigas na kayo nag da doubt pa.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 2, 2019
The foreign affairs chief, in an earlier tweet, said that he “fired off a salvo of diplomatic notes” before he embarked on a four-day official visit to China in late March.
READ: Locsin to ‘renew’ friendship with China’s top envoy during visit
“[Before] going to successful China visit I fired off salvo of diplomatic notes so I would not be accused of insincerity if, as suggested,” he said.
BEFORE going to successful China visit I fired off salvo of diplomatic notes so I would not be accused of insincerity if, as suggested, I fired them off AFTER the visited wch is sioki. Instructed shot over massing of moving vessels because circling establishes nothing. https://t.co/2AQYhpPEcu
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 2, 2019
On Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo cited a statement from the military saying that the Philippine government already filed a diplomatic protest against China.
However, the Palace official later clarified that the Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to file the diplomatic action.
READ: Panelo: Diplomatic protest vs China ‘on its way’
“I confirmed it with Secretary Teddyboy Locsin that he’s going to file a note verbale. I think it’s on the way, according to him, I was talking to him last night,” Panelo said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel. /ee