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Navy official sings ‘in your head’ as China insists on ‘new model’

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Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1715150983425171135556351220240325080320_ayungin.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span data-offset-key="d4bnj-0-0" id="isPasted" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span data-text="true" style="box-sizing:border-box">A Chinese Coast Guard ship attacks a Philippine resupply ship with water cannon near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. </span></span><span data-offset-key="d4bnj-0-1" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span data-text="true" style="box-sizing:border-box"><em>From AFP handout video</em></span></span><em> </em></span></span></span>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> — The Philippine Navy on Wednesday dismissed a newspaper report of an alleged recorded phone conversation on the “new model” for managing the situation in Ayungin Shoal, saying it is part of China’s disinformation campaign.</div><p>Commo. Roy Vincent Trinidad, <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, </span>said the report is a “zombie story” and should be put to rest.</p><p>“We will not dignify reports like that. It’s a zombie story, let’s bring it back to where it rightfully belongs: To the grave,” Trinidad said.</p><p>The Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense and the National Security Council have all denied the existence of the supposed agreement.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/7/dfa-no-document-record-or-deal-with-china-on-ayungin-shoal-1132">READ: &#x27;No document, record or deal&#x27; with China on Ayungin Shoal — DFA</a></div><p>“Anybody could say anything. These stories will be rehashed. We have to understand that this warfare is a battle of narratives, battle of shaping the perception of the people,” Trinidad added.</p><p>He also sang “in your head,” a lyrics from the Cranberries song “Zombie”, to address China’s claim.</p><p>Meanwhile, Trinidad clarified Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Western Command chief</span>, is on a leave of absence for personal reasons and is not related to the West Philippine issue issue.</p><p>Carlos was linked to the Chinese Embassy&#x27;s “new model” claim, but Trinidad said the leave application was filed “before even these issues arose.”</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/25/23/dnd-says-moving-to-counter-chinas-disinformation-on-wps">RELATED: DND says moving to counter China&#x27;s disinformation on West Philippine Sea</a></div><p>“That’s why I said we have to be very keen in looking at the issues,” he said.</p><div><strong>SEN. MARCOS: LET&#x27;S HEAR IT</strong></div><p>Sen. Imee Marcos, <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair</span>, meanwhile, said she wants to hear the audio recording that China claims is proof of a new agreement.</p><p>&quot;I have no idea di ko pa naririnig abangan natin. Hingin natin, di ba.&quot; Marcos told media when her reaction was sought about the reports.</p><p>(Let&#x27;s wait for it, I haven&#x27;t heard it. Let&#x27;s ask for it, right?)</p><p>Marcos&#x27;s panel is gearing up to tackle the supposed &quot;gentleman&#x27;s agreement&quot; between the Duterte Administration and China for a status quo on the West Philippine Sea. </p><p>While they can always have a closed door executive session because of the sensitivity of the matter, Marcos would prefer more transparent hearings on the allegedly &quot;secret&quot; agreement.</p><p>&quot;Kapag ini-executive session, mananatiling  lihim eh. Anong silbi noon? Kaya nga public hearing ang pangalan.&quot; Marcos said.</p><p>(If you have an executive session, secrets will remain secrets so it will be useless. It&#x27;s not a public hearing for nothing)</p><p>The Senate referred Sen. Risa Hontiveros&#x27; resolution for an inquiry to the Marcos-led panel during the plenary session Tuesday. </p><p>Sen. Marcos said she is already working out the logistics, including drawing up a list of resource persons.</p><p>Marcos cannot yet say if she will invite her ally, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to the hearings but gave assurances that the hearing will not be a witch hunt.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m also the sister of my brother, (so) I&#x27;m connected to all the parties virtually.&quot;</p><p>She said she is not sure if the committee can hold the hearing before Congress adjourns its second regular session sine die, later this month.</p><div><strong>DFA WARY OF CHINA&#x27;S &#x27;DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN&#x27;</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro underscored China’s alleged “disinformation campaign” in a forum in Quezon City.</p><p>“We must continue to categorically reject these narratives when we can,” she said.</p><p>“It is only the president of the Republic of the Philippines who can authorize anyone to agree on issues pertaining to the South China Sea because I think this is a very fundamental aspect of our sovereignty,” she added.</p><p>Lazaro said the Philippines continues to work with a number of partners on countering China’s disinformation campaign.</p><p>Lazaro said the Foreign Affairs department is proposing to host the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism in Manila this May as the Philippines “continue to keep channels open.”</p><p>China has yet to respond to the invitation, Lazaro said. <strong>— with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CjSHOiiKPzI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>“We will not dignify reports like that. It’s a zombie story, let’s bring it back to where it rightfully belongs: To the grave,” Commodore Trinidad said.</p>

“We will not dignify reports like that. It’s a zombie story, let’s bring it back to where it rightfully belongs: To the grave,” Commodore Trinidad said.