WATCH: Senatorial candidates clash over China 'debt trap' issue
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 27) — Tensions ran high as opposition candidates clashed views with two pro-administration bets on the country's loan agreements with China during the CNN Philippines Senatorial Debate Saturday.
All six Otso Diretso candidates that participated in the debate —Gary Alejano, Chel Diokno, Samira Gutoc, Florin Hilbay, Romulo Macalintal, and Erin Tañada — were joined by Independent bet Neri Colmenares in raising a red flag on the loans from China, warning about falling into the so-called Chinese deb trap like what happened in other countries that failed to pay their debts to the Asian giant.
Former National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa, who is running under the administration partyPDP-Laban, and Rafael Alunan, who was endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte, defended these loans, Alunan, who is from Bagumbayan Party, said the deals were not yet final. Dela Rosa tried to ask if critics of the confidentiality clause in the China loans had tried to ask for a copy of these deals. He never finished his whole statement as opposition candidates ganged up on him. Some were saying they did ask for a copy.
A number of projects in the administration's "Build, Build, Build" program such as the Kaliwa Dam and Mindanao Railway Project will be funded by China.
Some sectors had expressed concern that what happened in countries like Sri Lanka might be repeated in the Philippines. In December 2017, Sri Lanka handed over to China its Hambantota port after failing to pay the decades-long lease on the facility.
Such concerns were dismissed by both Philippine and China government officials.
