CHIZ: HK COLUMNIST A BIGOT; URGES FILING OF CASE FOR DAMAGES

Sen. Chiz Escudero said yesterday that racism on the part of some arrogant, narrow-minded individuals only show that there are people whose mindsets belongs to a bygone era.

Escudero was referring to an opinion piece by Tsao titled "The War At Home" that was published in the March 27 issue of HK Magazine.

Tsao implied that the Philippines had no right to dispute China's claim on the disputed Spratly Islands, since many Filipinos work in Hong Kong as domestic helpers.

The Spratlys are being claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.

Escudero said it was not enough for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to just condemn Tsao's piece.

"I am not asking the DFA file a diplomatic protest. But our government must address this issue squarely and defend the dignity of Filipinos. If we need to take legal action against Tsao, let us do so. Our government should be in the frontline on this; they can hire a lawyer in Hongkong if at all, and file a case for damages," he said.

Escudero said this move would serve two purposes, one, it will send the message that we as a nation will not take this sitting down, two, our government, even with its insensitivity to a lot of our people's plights, can at least make our people who toil overseas feel that their government somehow listens and acts for them and defends them.