The Lacson-Sotto tandem on Friday, Nov. 19 pressed for the revival of Philippine alliances with militarily strong countries and use existing bilateral agreements with them to keep the country safe amid the threat of Chinese armed might.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto, a vice presidential aspirant, said the Philippine should highlight the provisions of the 70-year-old Philippine-United States Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) sapagkat ‘yun ang panlaban diyan e (because that should be our military response).’’
Both Sotto and Partido Reforma chairman-standard bearer Senator Panfilo M. Lacson stressed that the Philippines should not be a pushover in its own territory and the government should investigate all acts of interference in the West Philippine Sea by China (WPS) and its Coast Guard ships.
Lacson and Sotto denounced the latest incident this week when Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked and used water cannons to drive away local commercial ships resupplying the Armed Forces’ BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the WPS.
Although the Department of Foreign Affairs expressed its "outrage, condemnation and protest" to Beijing, the communist country’s own Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian claimed the Philippines' boats were in the wrong and had no permission to enter the area on Nov. 16, Tuesday.
Zhao insisted that the Chinese Coast Guard was upholding its sovereignty over the maritime waters, countering the statement made by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., as the incident was confirmed by the Palawan-based Western Command of the Armed Forces.
We are not satisfied (with just diplomatic protests) ... Sarili na nga nating teritoryo, tayo pa ‘yung tinataboy, wina-water cannon. Napakasamang pangitain ‘yon, so kailangan ma-correct ito,” Lacson said in Partido Reporma’s regular weekly “Meet the Press” Zoom conference with reporters.
“Kaya nga ang aming magiging polisiya dito, makipag-alliance tayo doon sa malalakas na bansa, ‘yung mga militarily strong countries. Like meron naman tayong existing mga bilateral agreement with them,” Lacson added. Lacson is the chairman of the Senate committee on National Defense and Security.
Lacson said he and Sotto believe in the balance of power in the South China Sea.
“Ang alam ko, meron doong sinasabi na pagka tayo nagkaroon ng parang kahit a form of aggression, papasok ‘yung ano e, the Mutual Defense Treaty will kick in (From what I know, the MDT will kick in when there is a form of aggression). And, therefore, the United States has a say on the story of what’s happening there all of a sudden,” added Sotto, who has a combined 42 years in the Senate with Lacson.
Sotto said the Philippine government should look into the provisions of the MDT and see the reaction of China.