At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– dealing with China’s recent actions in the West Philippine Sea
– ‘conflict of interest’ at the DOH involving Sec. Duque, kin; corruption at PhilHealth
– proposals to scrap STL amid corruption row at PCSO
– ‘militarization’ of government with appointment of retired military/police officials
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Kapihan sa Senado forum | Aug. 1, 2019”
A verbal agreement between President Duterte and President Xi is what it is – a verbal agreement. Is that verbal agreement already part of our national policy? Is it being carried out? It is my humble view that it is not. Why? There is no showing that the Department of Foreign Affairs as well as the Department of National Defense are implementing that so-called verbal agreement.
In fact, on occasion, the two frontline agencies have expressed different views. Having said that, we will be better off to just leave it at that.
Maybe our problem is, we have a spokesman who talks more than he should. He telegraphs every move and every plan that the executive has on issues that need a little diligence and study.
*****
To Malaya Business Insight: This refers to the column of former ambassador and Dean Reynaldo Arcilla, where he tried to inject political color into Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson’s recent statements on the Recto Bank incident at the West Philippine Sea.
Continue reading “✉ Letter to the Editor: On Rey Arcilla’s column [Malaya Business Insight]”
On the Mutual Defense Treaty, while my opinion is different from the President’s, it doesn’t matter much which one is right or wrong; it is who is making the decision which in this case, obviously, he is the one.
As for me, I always express my opinion on what I think is right, not when it is popular. In some people’s minds, highly partisan as they are, that is lack of conviction.
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It is a good development that the President has subsequently corrected himself by saying that he cannot prevent incursions of foreign fishing vessels within the Exclusive Economic Zone because even if he wants to, we don’t have the capability nor the capacity to do it, not to mention that the arbitral ruling is unenforceable in the first place; and that the Philippines merely exercises sovereign right, not sovereignty over the areas within the EEZ. I agree with the President in this regard. Having said that, to allow is not the same as not being able to prevent.
Further, calling on the United States – with whom we have a Mutual Defense Treaty – and other western allies to help check China in the WPS is proper given the prevailing circumstances, contrary to some narrow-minded critics that such move is a sure formula for war.
On the other hand, maintaining the balance of power in the WPS will prevent rather that ignite war. Why? No two superpowers would go to war in this day and age of nuclear technology for the simple reason of its ‘zero-sum’ outcome.
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In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– China’s ‘cabbage strategy’ in the West Philippine Sea
– potential issues surrounding ‘joint investigation’ of Recto Bank incident
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on DZBB: China’s ‘Cabbage Strategy’ in the West PH Sea | June 24, 2019”
The 2016 Hague ruling expressly states that Recto Bank is part of the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and therefore cannot be claimed by China. Having said that, allowing a joint investigation with China and a third party may be interpreted as a waiver of our sovereign rights over Recto Bank.
While the intention of this administration may be laudable in trying to preserve our country’s bilateral relations with China, presumably for political and economic reasons in order to uplift the living standards of our people, we should also consider the more important issue of sovereign rights as expressed in the arbitral ruling.
At the very least, that must be clearly addressed during the conduct of the joint investigation.
*****
In an interview on DZMM, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Mutual Defense Treaty to prevent, not trigger war
– former SFA del Rosario in Hong Kong
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on DZMM: MDT to Prevent, Not Trigger War; Former SFA in HK | June 21, 2019”
In an interview on DZRH, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– DOH Sec Duque’s possible conflict of interest
– need for ‘overhaul’ at PhilHealth
– 22 fishermen abandoned by Chinese crew at West PH Sea
– Senate independence in the 18th Congress
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on DZRH: ‘Conflict of Interest’ at PhilHealth | June 20, 2019”
At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– irregularities involving the PhilHealth board and Chairman Francisco Duque III
– maritime ‘hit-and-run’ at the West Philippine Sea
– dealing with ‘critics’
Quotes from the forum…
Continue reading “Kapihan sa Senado forum | June 19, 2019”
