MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said the Philippines could learn from Vietnam’s approach in engaging China, while stressing the stark difference between how Hanoi treats Filipinos compared to Beijing.

During the Commission on Appointments hearing with Ambassador Francisco Noel Fernandez, Hontiveros supported the point raised by her colleague, SAGIP Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, that Vietnam’s engagement with China continues despite disputes.

“Meron talaga tayong matututunan paano ine-engage ng Vietnam ang China. Hindi lang siya, pati Indonesia, Brunei, at particularly Vietnam dahil alam po natin naoobserbahan po natin na kahit na may disputes sila, tuloy-tuloy of course yung trade, tuloy-tuloy pati yung defense relations, pati nga ang intelligence exchange tuloy-tuloy,” Hontiveros said.

But she underscored the difference in how Vietnam treats the Philippines compared to China.

“Hindi naman tayo wina-water cannon ng Vietnam, di tulad ng China,” she said, recalling how Vietnamese fishermen rescued the crew of the Gem-Ver fishing vessel after it was rammed by a Chinese ship and abandoned in the West Philippine Sea.

Hontiveros added that such incidents were even depicted in a recent documentary by director Babyruth Villarama, where Filipino fishermen expressed hope that Vietnamese boats would find them at sea, unlike Chinese vessels.

“Siguradong irerescue sila, di daw tulad kung yung Chinese vessel ang dumaan sa kanila eh iiwanan din sila sa dagat tulad ng ginawa sa Gem-Ver,” she said.