Palace to public: Don't hold violent protests vs China

MANILA, Philippines — After last week's anti-China riots in Vietnam, Malacañang is urging Filipinos not to conduct similar violent demonstrations against the Asian giant's increasing aggression in the disputed South China Sea.

Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) head Herminio Coloma Jr. said while policemen are tasked to maintain peace and order, protesters should also do their part by following the rule of law.

"Syempre po nandiyan 'yung panawagan sa ating mga mamamayan na magdaraos nito na sumunod din sa mga patakaran ng tahimik na pamamahayag at mga requirements po ng ating batas hinggil diyan," Coloma said in an interview on state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

"Pagtulungan na lang po natin 'yung pag-maintain ng kaayusan para ang lumitaw at ang lumutang ay 'yung mensahe ng ating pagpapahayag at hindi 'yung pagkakaroon ng karahasan na dapat pagtulungan nating maiwasan at hindi maganap," he added.

On Friday, Filipinos and Vietnamese residents here staged a joint protest against China's incursions into the territories claimed by their countries.

More than 100 Filipinos and Vietnamese picketed the Chinese embassy here and chanted "China get out" while carrying banners including one that urged Manila and Hanoi to "join hands" against Beijing.

After Beijing deployed an oil rig near the Paracel Islands claimed by Hanoi early this month, Chinese and Vietnamese ships have been locked in a standoff that have sparked violent anti-China protests, killing at least two Chinese nationals and wounding over 100 others.

China said it had evacuated 3,000 nationals from Vietnam and was sending the first of five ships to pull out others wanting to leave.

The Philippines, meanwhile, recently lodged a protest against China's land reclamation in the disputed Mabini Reef. Filipino authorities also arrested Chinese fishermen for poaching more than 500 marine turtles at the Hasa-Hasa Shoal.

Malacañang said the territorial disputes with China was discussed by President Aquino and Vietnam's prime minister during the 24th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit more than a week ago.

But the matter might be raised again when Aquino meets with the Vietnamese leader during the World Economic Forum (WEF) East Asia to be held here this week.

"Natural lang siguro na kapag nagkita muli ang Pangulo at ang Prime Minister ng Vietnam ay maaaring magkaroon ng pagkakataon na mapag-usapan itong muli," Coloma said. -with the Associated Press