MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday likened Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo to a “Chinese puppet” for his remarks that the country should be thankful to China if it built a maritime rescue center on the Kagitingan Reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). READ: Palace: ‘Be thankful’ if China built maritime rescue center in West Philippine SeaADVERTISEMENTThis is after Panelo, in a Palace briefing on Thursday, said the Philippines should be “thankful” to China if it indeed built a maritime rescue center on the Philippine-claimed area in the WPS. His every tone clearly manifests the language of a Chinese puppet,” Pangilinan said in a statement. Pangilinan noted that Panelo was the same official who earlier said that it was alright for the Chinese to fish in Spratlys waters. READ: Panelo on PH arbitration case vs China: Who will enforce it?

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 01, 2019 05:37 UTC