KIKO CAUTIONS THE NATION AGAINST BEING DRAWN 'UNWITTINGLY' INTO TERRITORIAL DISPUTE WITH CHINA

Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan today cautions Filipinos against being unwitting pawns in what could possibly be a politically motivated show of force of China in their excursions into the Scarborough Shoal.

"We should not allow our country to be unwittingly drawn into the escalating tensions over the Scarborough Shoal. We must tread very carefully. China is currently embroiled in a leadership scandal at the highest levels of the Communist Party. The current tension in the West Philippine Sea could become a very convenient diversion by fanning the flames of nationalist fanaticism in China."

The senator points out, "We should not allow ourselves to become scapegoats in a brewing internal controversy. We must exercise utmost restraint."