Tag: West Philippine Sea

Statements, TV

Ping: Malaking Problema Kung Biro at Pagsiseryoso ng Pangulo, ‘di na Matukoy

Hindi nakakatuwa ang “pagbibiro” ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para sa mamamayang Pilipino, lalo na sa mahalagang isyu tulad ng teritoryo natin sa West Philippine Sea.

Ito ang naging tugon ni Senador Panfilo Lacson sa pagsasalita ng Pangulo sa publiko nitong Lunes ng gabi, kung saan ay sinabi nitong nagbibiro lamang siya nang sabihin noong 2016 na siya ay magdi-jetski patungo sa Spratlys.

“It’s very hard to read his mind. He may be sending mixed signals such that we don’t know if he’s serious or joking. His spokesperson would say he is joking, but there are times he seems serious in his statements. We don’t know anymore. We have a very big problem in our hands,” banggit ni Lacson sa panayam ng ANC.

Related: Lacson: President’s ‘Joking’ Statements No Laughing Matter
Continue reading “Ping: Malaking Problema Kung Biro at Pagsiseryoso ng Pangulo, ‘di na Matukoy” →

Statements, TV

Lacson: President’s ‘Joking’ Statements No Laughing Matter

What President Rodrigo Duterte may consider a “joke” could be no laughing matter for Filipinos especially when it involves key issues like our territory in the West Philippine Sea, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson said this after the President said Monday night that he was only joking when he said during the 2016 campaign that he would ride a jet ski to the Spratlys.

“It’s very hard to read his mind. He may be sending mixed signals such that we don’t know if he’s serious or joking. His spokesperson would say he is joking, but there are times he seems serious in his statements. We don’t know anymore. We have a very big problem in our hands,” Lacson said in an interview on ANC.

“When he addresses the nation, we don’t know when he is joking or serious. Is it up to us to understand which is which? It’s really hard for Filipinos,” he added.

Related: Ping: Malaking Problema Kung Biro at Pagsiseryoso ng Pangulo, ‘di na MatukoyPing: Hindi Biro ang Mga Pahayag ng Pangulo
Continue reading “Lacson: President’s ‘Joking’ Statements No Laughing Matter” →

Radio, Statements

Lacson: Palace Risking More Damage with ‘Damage Control’ Overkill on WPS Debate Issue
Image Courtesy: CNN Philippines

The more Malacañang tries damage control in the West Philippine Sea debate issue, the more it risks additional damage while worsening the deep political division in the country, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said there is no point for raising further issues since the debate between President Rodrigo Duterte and former Justice Antonio Carpio will no longer push through.

“If you try doing too much damage control and it becomes obvious, you just risk more damage. The issue is finished, there is no more debate,” he said in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“A piece of unsolicited advice to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque or those in Malacanang: It is better to just stay quiet. After all, the debate won’t push through,” he added.

Continue reading “Lacson: Palace Risking More Damage with ‘Damage Control’ Overkill on WPS Debate Issue” →

Statements

On the Prospective WPS Debate between the President and former Justice Carpio

First, a public debate is always healthy in a democratic environment – as long as it is limited to the issue at hand, and does not go down to the gutter level.

On one hand, a question comes to mind: What do we gain from the debate, assuming that it pushes through? One other dire outcome is further divisiveness that only China will benefit from.

I could almost imagine the anticipated excitement on the part of the Chinese while watching all these developments as they continue to be busy surveying more shoals within our exclusive economic zone that they can build more garrisons to pursue their expansionist agenda in the West Philippines Sea.

That said, the hype surrounding the debate should not distract us into allowing the Chinese to sneak into our territory while we argue among ourselves. That would be the last thing we need for our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

*****

Statements, Videos

Ping, Sumaludo sa Pagbabantay ng AFP, PCG sa WPS
Image: CTTO

Matapos matagumpay na maitaboy palayo sa Sabina Shoal sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) ang ilang barko ng Chinese militia, ipinaabot ni Senate Committee on National Defense Chairman Panfilo Lacson ang pagsaludo sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Kasabay ng pagsaludo at paghanga, umaasa si Lacson na itutuloy-tuloy ng dalawang puwersa ng pamahalaan ang masigasig na pagbabantay sa mga bahagi ng WPS na lehitimong pag-aari ng Pilipinas.

Ayon sa senador, kailangang dapat na palaging alerto at listo ang puwersa ng PCG at AFP na nakatalagang magbantay sa mga bahaging pag-aari ng Pilipinas upang hindi sila masalisihan dahil hindi malayong pumasok ang mga dayuhan kapag sila ay nakalingat.

“We must not let our guard down. Since the 1990s, China has already made three incursions into our exclusive economic zone (EEZ): Mischief Reef, Scarborough Shoal, and now, Julian Felipe Reef. They are likely to do so again if we relax,” pahayag ni Lacson.

Related: Lacson to AFP, Coast Guard: Keep Up the Good Work at WPS
Continue reading “Ping, Sumaludo sa Pagbabantay ng AFP, PCG sa WPS” →

Statements, Videos

Lacson to AFP, Coast Guard: Keep Up the Good Work at WPS
Image: CTTO

After driving away Chinese ships off Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard should keep up the good work of watching over the area, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

But Lacson stressed our forces must keep alert over our territory and maintain such an approach to intruders, lest they sneak in when our guard is down.

“We must not let our guard down. Since the 1990s, China has already made three incursions into our exclusive economic zone (EEZ): Mischief Reef, Scarborough Shoal, and now, Julian Felipe Reef. They are likely to do so again if we relax,” said Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense.

Related: Ping, Sumaludo sa Pagbabantay ng AFP, PCG sa WPS
Continue reading “Lacson to AFP, Coast Guard: Keep Up the Good Work at WPS” →

Essays, Online

Divided We Sink [published in The Manila Times]

Sen. Lacson’s commentary published in The Manila Times: “I am sure many Filipinos — not only those who are neither DDS nor Yellows, but even some from either political camp, whether they admit it or not — share some, if not all, of these views. We should thus continue speaking our minds independently, especially in pursuit of our national interest.”

Continue reading “Divided We Sink [published in The Manila Times]” →

Statements

Ping: Anong Klaseng Kaibigan ang China?
Image: CTTO

Ito ang nagtatakang tanong ni Senador Panfilo Lacson bunga ng patuloy na pangangamkam sa sakop ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas, pang-aagrabyado at pagkibit-balikat ng China sa mga protestang inihahain ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) dahil sa mga ginagawa nito sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Bunga ng mga naturang pangyayari, iminungkahi ni Lacson, chairman ng Senate Committee on National Defense, na muling pasadahan ang mga nilalaman ng diplomatic ties ng dalawang bansa.

Sa kanyang Twitter post, nanawagan din ang mambabatas sa mga kasamahang senador na suportahan si DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. sa pagpalag nito sa isa sa pinakahuling ginawa ng China sa mga Pinoy na nasa WPS.

“Maybe a review of the country’s diplomatic relations is timely and called for. All the diplomatic protests that the Secretary of Foreign Affairs filed have been ignored as if nothing was filed at all. The continued incursions and bullying finally got his goat. The Senate must support him in this regard,” banggit ni Lacson.

Related: Lacson Pushes Review of PH-China Diplomatic Ties
Continue reading “Ping: Anong Klaseng Kaibigan ang China?” →

Statements

Lacson Pushes Review of PH-China Diplomatic Ties
Image: CTTO

What kind of friend – or benefactor – would take what is ours, bully us, and ignore our protests?

On this note, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson is seeking a review of the diplomatic ties between the Philippines and China, in the wake of China’s recent incursions and bullying in the West Philippine Sea.

Lacson also said the Senate should throw its support behind Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., who in a tweet had told China to “get… out” after filing numerous diplomatic protests over China’s conduct.

“Maybe a review of the country’s diplomatic relations is timely and called for. All the diplomatic protests that the Secretary of Foreign Affairs filed have been ignored as if nothing was filed at all. The continued incursions and bullying finally got his goat. The Senate must support him in this regard,” Lacson, who heads the Senate’s national defense committee, said on his Twitter account late Monday.

Related: Ping: Anong Klaseng Kaibigan ang China?
Continue reading “Lacson Pushes Review of PH-China Diplomatic Ties” →

Radio, Statements

Ping: WPS, Ibang Mahahalagang Usapin ‘Nilulunod’ ng Away-Pulitika

Hindi dapat malagay sa kompromiso ang pakikipaglaban ng Pilipinas sa mga bahagi ng West Philippine Sea (WPS) na nasa loob ng teritoryo nito, pati na rin ang iba pang mahahalagang usapin dahil lamang sa lumalalang bangayan ng dalawang magkalabang paksiyon sa pulitika sa bansa.

Ayon kay Senate committee on national defense chairman Panfilo Lacson, higit na nakakarami pa rin ang mga may lehitimong layunin para sa ikakaayos ng bansa kaya hindi dapat matabunan ang hangaring ito ng dalawang grupo na gamit ang troll farm.

“We are a deeply divided nation. DDS and Yellows bicker about anything. Worse, they assume that everybody else is their proxy. Right or wrong, either you’re with them or against them. Absolutely false! There are many of us who speak our own minds, not theirs,” banggit ni Lacson sa kanyang Twitter account.

Related: Lacson: Don’t Let Deep Political Divide ‘Drown’ WPS, Key National Issues
Continue reading “Ping: WPS, Ibang Mahahalagang Usapin ‘Nilulunod’ ng Away-Pulitika” →