Senators alarmed over Filipino cadets studying in China military school

Several senators on Monday said they were alarmed that Filipino cadets were being sent to a military school in China.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, chairperson of the Committee on National Defense and Security, asked Defense Undersecretary Irineo Espino if this was being encouraged or required of the cadets.

“Are we requiring them or encouraging our cadets to study in Beijing military academy?” Estrada asked during a Senate hearing on defense bills.

“I think this is quite alarming and this is the first time I heard this news coming from Senator Tolentino,” Estrada added.

Senator Francis Tolentino brought up the topic and expressed concern that the Chinese government might be funding the studies of concerned Filipino cadets.

“So, may allowance din yun sa Chinese government? May allowance yan, yung billeting, lodging, accommodation yun (Does the Chinese government provide allowance? It must have an allowance, like for billeting, lodging, accommodation),” Tolnetino said.

“May patch yun kapag graduate ka (You will receive a patch if you graduate), and you must learn, likewise, sing the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China. Alarming, indeed,” he added.

Senator Raffy Tulfo said that it was a slap on the face for the Philippines, considering its challenges in addressing the supposed bullying of China.

“Sampal po ito sa atin. Binubully po tayo ng China and yet yung military natin walang magawa tapos ngayon yung mga military natin hindi kayang harapin ang China para sabihing ‘stop’, pinapadala natin sa China para mag-aral,” Tulfo said.

(It was a slap on our face, China has been bullying us and yet our military, who cannot do anything about it and who cannot face China to tell it to stop, are being sent to China to study.)

Espino said they would look into the matter as he admitted he heard about it.

“We will check, and we will ask. I heard about it,” he said. — DVM, GMA Integrated News