DUMAGUETE CITY – The balance of power that the Marcos administration has adopted is proving effective so far in fending off threats in the West Philippine Sea, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.
Lacson reiterated his full support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s policy of the Philippines not surrendering “not even an inch” of our territory.
“One thing the President did that I support, is that he allied with other countries that are as militarily strong if not stronger than China. This is what I have been espousing – the balance of power,” he said in Filipino at a press conference of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate here.
Related: Ping Lacson: Balance of Power Epektibo vs Banta sa WPS
“We are not inviting war with the balance of power. We are preventing it because a country seeking to invade or commit acts of aggression against us will think 10 times first because militarily strong countries will come to our aid,” he said in an interview on Bombo Radyo Philippines earlier Thursday.
Lacson also said another potent weapon the Philippines has is the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, which he hopes will not be triggered lest it lead to a war.
On the other hand, Lacson said strengthening and modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains the best long-term solution to addressing threats in the WPS.
“The long-term solution is to strengthen our AFP. I authored and sponsored a bill for the AFP’s modernization,” he said.
He was referring to the key amendments he made for what is now Republic Act 10349, the revised AFP Modernization Act. Lacson had pushed for an initial budget of P75 billion for the first five years of the measure.
*****
Ping Lacson: Balance of Power Epektibo vs Banta sa WPS
DUMAGUETE CITY – Ang balance of power na ginagamit ng administrasyong Marcos ay epektibo sa pagtugon sa mga banta sa West Philippine Sea, ayon kay dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ngayong Huwebes.
Iginiit ni Lacson ang kanyang suporta para sa polisiya ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na hindi isusuko ng Pilipinas kahit isang pulgada ng teritoryo nito.
“Ang isang ginagawa niya ngayon na nagustuhan ko personally, nakikipag-alliance siya sa iba’t ibang countries na malalakas na kung di kasinglakas ng China, pag na-consolidate magiging kasinglakas o mas malakas sa China. Ito ine-espouse ko noon pa na balance of power,” aniya sa pulong pambalitaan ng Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate dito.
“Hindi tayo nag-iimbita ng giyera pag may balance of power; pine-prevent natin ang giyera kasi mag-iisip 10 beses ang isang bansa na malakas bago niya invade or magkaroon ng aggression dahil alam nilang may sasaklolo na nakaabang din na kasing lakas nila militarily,” aniya sa panayam sa Bombo Radyo Philippines Huwebes ng umaga.
Dagdag ni Lacson, ang isa pang maaaring gamitin ng Pilipinas ay ang Mutual Defense Treaty nito sa Estados Unidos, nguni’t umaasa siyang hindi ito kailangang gamitin dahil maaaring umuwi ito sa giyera.
Sa kabilang dako, itinulak ni Lacson ang pagpapalakas at pag-modernize sa Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas (AFP) bilang long-term solution sa isyu sa WPS.
“Ang long term, kailangan palakasin natin ang AFP. Ako ang nag-author and sponsor pati ng revised modernization,” aniya sa panayam sa Bombo Radyo Philippines.
Nagmungkahi ng mga amyenda si Lacson sa ngayo’y Republic Act 10349, ang Revised AFP Modernization Act. Tinulak ni Lacson ang initial budget na P75 bilyon para sa unang limang taon ng batas.
*****