FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – The Senate will hold an all-senators’ caucus on Monday, Feb. 23, to set the ground rules for potential discussions with the Chinese Embassy on the West Philippine Sea dispute, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson said the minority bloc can take part in the caucus if they wish.
“At least mag-establish kami ng parameters on how to communicate with each other para hindi tayo nagkakasakitan (We seek to establish parameters on how to communicate with each other, so we do not offend each other),” he said in an interview after the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming here.
In Filipino: Lacson: Mag-Caucus ang Senado para Itakda ang Ground Rules sa Posibleng Pakikipag-usap sa Chinese Embassy hinggil sa WPS
Earlier, Lacson brought up the possibility of sit-down talks between senators and the Chinese Embassy after Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan expressed willingness to talk with Philippine leaders to ease the word war on the issue.
Meanwhile, Lacson said he is open to visiting the Pag-Asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group anew. He had visited Pag-Asa Island in 2021.
“If there’s another opportunity to go there I want to go there,” he said, noting Pag-Asa is the only inhabited barangay in the island. Some 400 to 500 Filipinos currently live there, he noted.
Because of this, he said it is incumbent on Philippine government forces to defend Pag-Asa Island from intrusion.
“So na-establish natin ang occupation. At bumoboto ang mga tao doon, may students doon. I think it’s incumbent upon us, especially the Armed Forces, to protect and defend Pag-Asa from either intrusion, or in a worse scenario, invasion (We have established that there are Filipinos occupying the island, and they are voting. There are students there. I think it’s incumbent upon us, especially our armed forces, to protect and defend Pag-Asa from intrusion – or in a worse scenario, invasion),” he said.
*****
Lacson: Mag-Caucus ang Senado para Itakda ang Ground Rules sa Posibleng Pakikipag-usap sa Chinese Embassy hinggil sa WPS
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — Magdaraos ang Senado ng all-senators’ caucus sa Lunes, Pebrero 23, upang itakda ang ground rules para sa posibleng talakayan sa Chinese Embassy kaugnay ng usapin sa West Philippine Sea, ani Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ngayong Sabado.
Ayon kay Lacson, maaaring salihan ng minority bloc ang caucus kung nais nila.
“At least mag-establish kami ng parameters on how to communicate with each other para hindi tayo nagkakasakitan,” aniya sa isang panayam matapos ang Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming dito.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Lacson na nais niyang magpasimula ng “sit-down talks” sa pagitan ng mga senador at ng Chinese Embassy matapos ipahayag ni Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan ang kahandaang makipagdayalogo sa mga lider ng Pilipinas upang maibsan ang palitan ng maaanghang na pahayag sa isyu.
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na bukas siya sa posibilidad na muling bumisita sa Pag-asa Island sa Kalayaan Island Group. Nakarating na siya sa Pag-asa Island noong 2021.
“If there’s another opportunity to go there I want to go there,” aniya. Binanggit niya na ang Pag-asa ang tanging barangay na may naninirahan sa nasabing isla. Tinatayang 400 hanggang 500 Pilipino ang kasalukuyang nakatira roon sa ngayon.
Dahil dito, sinabi niyang tungkulin ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas na ipagtanggol ang Pag-asa Island laban sa anumang panghihimasok.
“So na-establish natin ang occupation. At bumoboto ang mga tao doon, may students doon. I think it’s incumbent upon us, especially the Armed Forces, to protect and defend Pag-Asa from either intrusion, or in a worse scenario, invasion,” aniya.
*****