MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III's decision to bow to the Chinese government's request that the Philippines boycott the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony last week sets a bad precedent in the country's dealings with the Chinese government, a human rights lawyer said.

Lawyer Harry Roque of Center for International Law (CenterLaw Philippines) said the Nobel boycott started when the Chinese government sent letters to embassies of other countries in Norway asking them to skip the peace prize ceremony  for Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. Sending a representative to the ceremony would be considered an affront to Chinese sovereignty, Roque said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda" on Monday. 

The lawyer said the country has many unresolved issues with China including the corruption-tainted Northrail and NBN-ZTE projects.

"What is the message we are sending to China now? Because we are afraid of one letter, baka ibenta na natin ang national interest para wag lang magalit ang China," he said.

Roque said the Nobel boycott besmirches the country's reputation as a bastion of democracy and birthplace of the People Power movement.  He also noted that giving in to the Chinese government's request does not guarantee that the 5 Filipino "drug mules" on China's death row will be freed.

"We have to have a wider outlook on our national interest. If not, we will just be pushovers to China. Sa tingin ko mali ang paniniwala na 5 tao, yan ang ating national interest pagdating sa demokrasya. Kung wala ang demokrasya wala tayo ng kalayaan na ating tinatamo," he said.

'Bullying'

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares agreed that giving into the Chinese government's bullying is not a good tactic to free the 5 Pinoys. "From now on, every time we want something, we will allow ourselves to be bullied," he said.

Roque said Aquino's decision almost assures that the same thing will happen again in the future.

"I am sure that (this will be repeated). The Chinese are like that. Kasi parang inferiority complex ng Tsina because they are a conquered country, now they want to be the conqueror," he said.

He added: "We have to stand our ground not just because we believe in human rights but because we need to send a message, that though we are small and not as rich, we have self-respect. We will stand by our convictions."

Doublespeak

Roque also criticized how government officials denied that the Philippines would boycott the ceremony and then admitting it later on. "First, they said there was no boycott but was just a scheduling conflict and then the President admitted that national interest should be given priority," he said.

Colmenares said the conflicting statements showed that Malacañang was deliberately misleading the people.

"This is doublespeak that is no different from the doublespeak of the Arroyo government," he said.

Roque said the President should apologize for his wrong decision on the Nobel boycott.

"He is not the only one we look up to in his belief in democracy but also his friends and not just his friends but his parents. In fact, that is why his father offered his life -- to protect the rights of the people," he said.

Transactional politics

Colmenares also said he believes Aquino is eager to get investments from the Chinese government, which is why he decided not to send a representative to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

He rejected Aquino's explanation that the boycott was done to save the lives of 5 Filipinos on China's death row.

"I don't believe that this is for the drug mules... China is offering trade, to invest here but we already saw the Chinese corruption in the NBN-ZTE deal. It is too early for this Aquino government to deal in transactional politics like the Arroyo government," he said

He added: "I heard that the Armed Forces [of the Philippines] is asking for arms from China, and that there are bilateral agreements with China."

Colmenares said the Aquino administration should remember how the NBN-ZTE project during the Arroyo administration was tainted with corruption.

He also said no bilateral agreement should be forged on compromise.

"In the same way that we criticize the control and how the United States imposes itself, we level the same criticism on China. It shouldn't impose itself on us especially now that they think that they are a powerful country. The government must assert its sovereignty," he said.

The lawmaker said Aquino's decision reflects badly on the new president since it shows that he can be bullied.

"The controversies and other contracts may be revived by the Chinese because the president is a pushover," he said.

Death row deal?

President Aquino earlier admitted the country did not send a delegate to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony honoring a Chinese democracy activist for the sake of 5 Filipinos on China’s death row. The President noted he had already sent a letter to China asking for clemency for the 5 Filipinos.

Aquino also said the country is aiming for closure with China over the August 23 hostage incident, where 8 Hong Kong residents died.

The hostage crisis has caused diplomatic strains between the 2 nations. The Hong Kong government has voiced out its dismay over the “watered down” penalties that those involved have received.

He also said he was concerned for the safety of the Filipinos who may be caught in the tension between North and South Korea.