Hindi nararapat para sa Commander-in-Chief na maglabas ng mensaheng magbubunsod ng interpretasyon na tila sumusuko na ang pamahalaan sa pakikipaglaban sa Tsina para maangkin ang bahagi ng West Philippine Sea.

Ito ang naging tugon ni Senador Panfilo Lacson, Chairman ng Senate Committee on National Defense, makaraang ihayag ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na maaring mauwi sa madugong sagupaan ang situwasyon kapag pinilit ng Pilipinas na igiit ang pang-angkin nito sa mga lugar.

“He’s the leader of our country and he’s the commander-in-chief of our armed forces. He can think of anything and speak about anything except surrender. Remember, we have an arbitral ruling in our favor and it’s permanent although it’s unenforceable. There are so many things to think about except surrender. We cannot wave the white flag, so to speak,” banggit ni Lacson sa panayam ng CNN Philippines.

Ayon kay Lacson, posibleng malagay sa alanganin ang kasarinlan ng Pilipinas kapag hindi ito nasolusyunan.

“I am not saying the President is actually raising the white flag but that’s the implication. If the officers and men of the AFP would take it that way, it could be disastrous to Philippine sovereignty,” dagdag ni Lacson.

Related: Lacson: Commander-in-Chief Cannot ‘Surrender’ on WPS Issue

Kabilang sa mga maaaring solusyon, ayon kay Lacson, ay ang paglikha ng mas matibay na pakikipag-alyansa ng Pilipinas sa ibang bansa gaya ng mga binabanggit nina Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Teodoro Locsin Jr. at Department of National Defense (DND) Secretay Delfin Lorenzana.

Ayon sa senador, isa sa alyansang maaring palakasin ay ang relasyon ng Pilipinas at Japan dahil ang dalawang bansa ay parehong may isyu sa China tungkol sa teritoryo.

Ito ay bukod pa sa mga joint military exercises na maaring isagawa ng puwersang Pinoy at Estados Unidos at Australia.

“So let’s work along that line. We should not feel we’re alone. We cannot really win a war against China. Population-wise less than 1/10 tayo ng China. And military-wise, talagang no contest. But why would we sulk in a corner and think along that line when there are stronger countries, even Europe, they are willing to assist us through the European Union?” banggit ni Lacson.

Pero kung patuloy umanong mananahimik lamang sa isang sulok ang gobyerno, kada transaksiyon ng China sa Pilipinas ay may kaakibat na pananakop sa teritoryo ng bansa.

Samantala, hindi kumbinsido si Lacson na dahil sa pangyayaring ito ay tatalikuran na ng hanay ng militar ang pagsuporta kay Duterte.

“The President remains very popular and he enjoys massive support from the super majority of the men in uniform, both active and retired. I don’t think it will come to that. There are rumblings and complaints but it will not escalate into a situation that the AFP will withdraw support for the President. I would say that with certainty. I am chairman of the defense and security committee of the Senate. I’ve been in touch with most of the high ranking military officers. And I will tell you he really enjoys support from them,” dagdag ni Lacson.

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