Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Monday commended Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. for firmly defending the Philippines’ position on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), while Teodoro acknowledged Lacson’s role as one of his advisers during his Bar review.
During a Senate subcommittee hearing on the DND’s 2027 budget, Lacson joined Senate finance committee chairman Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito and Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian in citing Teodoro for standing up to China in recent international fora on the issue.
In Filipino: Lacson Pinuri si Teodoro sa Pagtatanggol sa Posisyon ng Pilipinas sa WPS; DND Chief, Ginunita ang Paggabay ng Senador sa Kanyang Bar Review
“Sa fora na in-attend niya, wala pang nakaka-match sa kanyang brilliance. So doon lang sila bumabawi by way of troll attacks, etc. I second the motion in commending you for standing up in a manner na talagang hindi na ma-rebut ang ating position (In the fora he attended, no one can match Teodoro’s brilliance. That’s why those he stood up to try to get back at him by way of troll attacks. So I second the motion in commending you for standing up in a manner where no one can rebut our position),” Lacson said.
For his part, Teodoro credited Lacson for helping train him as one of his advisers when he was reviewing for the Bar.
“Sir, dahil nang nag-review ako sa Bar, isa kayo sa adviser ko noong araw noong panahon na yan. Ito part ng legal training natin sa pag-rebut. Si Sen. Lacson et.al kasa-kasama ko nang nagre-review ako noong araw at marami akong natutunan sa kanila (Sir, that is because when I was reviewing for the Bar, you were one of my advisers. This helped mold my legal training in rebutting. Sen. Lacson and company were with me when I reviewed and I learned a lot from them),” he said.
“Yan ang tinatawag na mutual admiration club (That is what we call a mutual admiration club),” Lacson replied.
Earlier in the hearing, Ejercito and Gatchalian commended Teodoro for standing firm against Chinese delegates who questioned the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award.
Teodoro had stressed during the hearing that he cannot allow China to persist in claiming Philippine territory as its own.
“Pag hindi tayo manindigan laban sa narrative na yan mano-normalize yan. Mabuting manindigan tayo kesa mawala sa atin by default (If we don’t stand up against that narrative, it will be normalized. It is better to stand up for what is right, rather than lose what is ours by default),” he said.
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Lacson Pinuri si Teodoro sa Pagtatanggol sa Posisyon ng Pilipinas sa WPS; DND Chief, Ginunita ang Paggabay ng Senador sa Kanyang Bar Review
Pinuri ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes si Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. sa matatag nitong pagtatanggol sa posisyon ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), habang kinilala naman ni Teodoro ang papel ni Lacson bilang isa sa mga tagapayo niya noong nagre-review siya para sa Bar examinations.
Sa pagdinig ng Senate subcommittee sa panukalang budget ng DND para sa 2027, nakiisa si Lacson kina Senate finance committee chairman Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito at Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian sa pagpuri kay Teodoro sa paninindigan nito laban sa China sa mga kamakailang international forum hinggil sa usapin.
“Sa fora na in-attend niya, wala pang nakaka-match sa kanyang brilliance. So doon lang sila bumabawi by way of troll attacks, etc. I second the motion in commending you for standing up in a manner na talagang hindi na ma-rebut ang ating position,” ani Lacson.
Kinilala naman ni Teodoro ang naging papel ni Lacson sa kanyang pagsasanay sa batas, at ginunita na kabilang ang senador sa mga tagapayo niya noong naghahanda siya para sa Bar examinations.
“Sir, dahil nang nag-review ako sa Bar, isa kayo sa adviser ko noong araw noong panahon na yan. Ito part ng legal training natin sa pag-rebut. Si Sen. Lacson et.al kasa-kasama ko nang nagre-review ako noong araw at marami akong natutunan sa kanila,” ani Teodoro.
“Yan ang tinatawag na mutual admiration club,” tugon ni Lacson.
Nauna nang pinuri nina Ejercito at Gatchalian si Teodoro sa matatag nitong paninindigan laban sa mga delegadong Tsino na kumuwestiyon sa 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award.
Binigyang-diin ni Teodoro sa pagdinig na hindi niya maaaring hayaang patuloy na igiit ng China na pag-aari nito ang teritoryo ng Pilipinas.
“Pag hindi tayo manindigan laban sa narrative na yan mano-normalize yan. Mabuting manindigan tayo kesa mawala sa atin by default,” aniya.
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