Perez gagged on Sino poachers

Fearful that diplomatic ties with Beijing may be severed, Malacañang has ordered Justice Secretary Hernando Perez to shut up with regard to his squabble with Chinese Ambassador Wang Chunggi on the issue of the 122 Chinese fishermen caught poaching off Palawan waters.

Meanwhile, Wang asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to mediate swiftly to resolve his differences with Perez before Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian arrives for a visit tomorrow.

At the same time, Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes said he has sent about 90 Filipinos to Pag-asa Island in the disputed Spratly Islands to try to start a community there.

"Their plan is really to estalish a community, like a field of dreams," Reyes told Associated Press.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye reiterated yesterday the government would be guided by the recommendations of the DFA in resolving the rift between Perez and Wang.

Perez confirmed through text messages and cellular phone calls with reporters that Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo instructed him to keep quiet on his row with Wang.

"I was told not to make further statement about this," read a short message he sent to a reporter. Perez told another reporter that he did not want to comment further on the Sept. 20 incident.

The incident involved a spirited exchange between Wang and Perez that culminated in a request by the justice secretary to the DFA to declare Wang persona non grata after he tried to "bully" him into releasing the 122 Chinese fishermen.

Perez said the diplomat was not to be blamed for the incident, an indication that he appeared to have softened his stance on Wang, whom he described earlier as having pounded his fist on his desk several times.

"Don’t blame the Chinese ambassador. He did not cause it," Perez’s text message to reporters read. He did not elaborate.

Perez evidently made himself scarce yesterday. He reported for work in the morning but left before noon, saying he was not feeling well. Beat reporters were not able to interview him, as he also switched off his cellular phone.

Justice Undersecretary and department spokesman Manuel Teehankee, meanwhile, said that they were advised not to comment on the issue as the department wants to resolve the issue by all means.

Teehankee said Wang was informed that Perez could not order the release of the Chinese poachers because the case was pending before the court.

Perez had sent a report and complaint to Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople on Friday, which also included the sworn affidavits of persons who witnessed the heated exchange.

In a statement issued from Copenhagen, Ople said he will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan to resolve the issues raised by Perez.

At a press conference at the DFA, spokesman Victoriano Lecaros said efforts were being done to resolve the rift. He said Wang met with DFA acting Secretary Delia Domingo Albert on Sunday to air his side.

Chi will be in the country Sept. 25-29 to discuss key defense and security issues with Philippine officials. Discussions might include the two countries’ mutual concern on the disputed parts of the South China Sea.

The sources said Wang appeared to be pressured because of his failure to secure the release of the fishermen even after the visit of Li Peng, chairman of the National People’s Congress. – With reports from Efren Danao, Marichu Villanueva