Ang tama ay IPAGLABAN. Ang mali ay LABANAN.
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]”
In an interview on DZBB/GMA News TV, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Nationalism amid West Philippine Sea row
– On possibly bigger graft case at PhilHealth
– Corruption at the Bureau of Customs
Quotes from the interview…
Continue reading “Interview on DZBB/GMA News TV: WPS Issue a Matter of Nationalism | June 30, 2019”
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”