Compared to the $8B US aid to Taiwan, the $500M “alms” to the Philippines is not even good enough to console an “ally” willing to share Taiwan’s risks in allowing additional EDCA sites in Northern Luzon to help facilitate movement of US war materiel and logistics in case of a China invasion.

Malaki ang pasalamat natin kay Rep. Darrel Issa (California) sa kanyang “symbolic amendment” para maambunan ang Pilipinas kahit $500M. Kinumpara ko lang ang aid sa Taiwan dahil naalala ko ang dagdag na EDCA sites sa Isabela at Cagayan na klaro ang intention ay para malapit sa Taiwan.

More than anything, I am expressing our country’s dignity and self-respect.

(W)e are risking our country’s security by allowing EDCA sites in the north obviously as staging areas for US logistics in case China invades Taiwan. There is no feeling of entitlement here – only self-respect.

$8B to Taiwan to adequately defend itself and $500M to Ph for exposing ourselves as collateral target and consequently dragged into a war that is not ours, to me says a lot about how not to treat a longtime ally. Again, it’s about self-respect, not entitlement.

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