Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano lashed back at Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayateno on Friday for saying that he and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV are endangering the security of the country.

On Thursday, Cayetano accused Alejano and Trillanes of endangering the country’s security for claiming that that President Rodrigo Duterte had stopped patrols in the West Philippine Sea.

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However, Alejano said “allowing the blatant encroachment of China on Philippine territory” is the real issue that would put the country in danger.

He insisted that a fisherman had claimed that the Philippines is no longer conducting patrols in the West Philippine Sea.

The lawmaker said Malacañang “can deny all they want but the truth already came out from the fishermen’s testimony.”

However, Cayetano claimed on Thursday that government forces are still conducting patrols in the region. “It is very irresponsible of Senator Trillanes and Congressman Alejano to say na walang patrol (that we stopped patrolling the WPS),” the Foreign Affairs Chief said.

“I myself saw the pictures and reports on the latest patrol. So I’m a hundred percent sure that what Congressman Gary Alejano is saying is a lie,” Cayetano added.

READ: Cayetano slams Trillanes, Alejano for ‘endangering’ PH security

However, Alejano said, “I only spoke what was relayed to me by a source of authority when I said that Malacañang ordered our AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] to desist from patrolling the West Philippine Sea.”

“The information was relayed to me towards the end of last year, but I believe it is continuing as can be clearly gathered from the testimony of the Filipino fishermen in Malacanang this week,” he added.

“Sa totoo lang, mas delikado ang seguridad natin dahil nga walang nagpapatrolya sa West Philippine Sea na pinatunayan na ng mga mangingisdang iniharap mismo ng Malacanang. What is certain is that; one, China is indeed in control of Panatag Shoal, two, Chinese gets the best catch of our fishermen, and three, we have no patrols in the area. Taliwas ito sa sinasabi ni Cayetano na malaya ang ating mangingisda at pareho tayong may kontrol sa Panatag,” Alejano stressed.

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He urged the Duterte administration to verify for themselves the situation in the West Philippine Sea.

“Ang una sana nilang ginawa ay tingnan ang sitwasyon ng ating mga mangingisda at hanapan ng paraan kaysa maging defensive kaagad. Mas matutuwa pa ako kung mapatunayan nilang mali ako. At least we can be sure that someone is looking after our fishermen. Hindi yung papabayaan na lang natin na vulnerable sila at walang kalaban-laban sa pang-aabuso ng China,” Alejano said. /vvp

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