Miriam: Expect quid pro quo from China

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago believes that China will expect something in return for the suspension of the execution of 3 Filipinos found guilty of smuggling illegal drugs into the mainland.

She said on Monday that international relations do not just involve wooing another country.

Santiago said the Philippine government should be prepared to meet China halfway in case Beijing calls for something in return.

“You cannot expect China will simply suspend the execution just because we said so. Hihingi yan ng kapalit sigurado,” the lawmaker said.

She said China may ask a number of things, which include an agreement on their stand on the Spratly Islands, the termination of the US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement, or a joint program between the Chinese and the Philippine armed forces.

Senator Tito Sotto, meanwhile, said people need to avoid speculating and instead be grateful that Beijing seemed to have opened a door for negotiations regarding the fate of the 3 Filipino drug mules.

“I don't think we should over-analyze things or issues like that, nao-over analyze ng iba eh,” he said. “Pasalamat nalang tayo na na-postpone. Baka gawin nilang life imprisonment nalang o baka i-commute, ok na 'yon, tama na 'yon.”

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, on the other hand, believes that there is nothing that China could demand from the Philippines.

“I do not think the Chinese people are doing this to extract something from us. They are too big for that. The fact is our people violated their laws in the same way that if their people violated our laws we will have to punish them,” he explained.

DFA: No hidden deal on 3 Pinoys

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday that it does not consider China’s decision as a favor that must be returned in the future.

In a press statement, the DFA said the postponement of the execution of Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, Ramon Credo, and Elizabeth Batain “was the product of sustained round-the-clock and vigorous representations made by the Philippine government, culminating in the visit of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay to Beijing on February 18 and 19.”

“The insinuations of a ‘quid pro quo’ for the stay of execution of the three Filipinos are baseless and idle talk,” the department said.

”Contrary to allegations by some quarters, throughout the representations spearheaded by the Philippine Embassy in Beijing led by Ambassador Francisco L. Benedicto, and ultimately the Vice-President, the Philippine government never compromised national interest in its dealings on the matter,” the DFA added.

“As the Chinese Embassy in Manila has stated, this was ‘in consideration of a request of a friend.’ Any suggestion of factors other than maintaining the long-standing friendship between the Philippines and China is not supported by facts.”

source: abs-cbn