Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday, November 27 expressed his support to the Marcos administration’s move to conduct a review of the Philippine’s Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States saying it is high-time to make it attuned to the needs of the present time.
“Matagal na iong Mutual Defense Treaty natin. Iba na ang mundo dati, iba na ang mundo ngayon at importante na ma-review natin at mai-update (Our Mutual Defense Treaty has been around for a long time. The world was different before, the world is different now and it is important that we review and update),” Gatchalian said in an interview over Radio DZBB.
He said Vice President Kamala Harris’ assurances that an attack on the Philippines would invoke US mutual defense bodes well for the government.
Clear yan sa kanilang usapan sa pagitan ni Pangulo BBM at kanya at sa interview nakita ko na talagang idiniin nila na tutulungan tayo ng Amerika kung merong ganitong problema (That was clear in their conversation between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.) and her and in that interview I saw that they really emphasized that America will help us if there is a problem like this,” he pointed out.
National Security Adviser Secretary Clarita Carlos earlier disclosed that the government has already formed a group to study and review the 1951 MDT with the group being led by the National Security Council (NSC), the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Gatchalian said whatever updates would be included in the MDT has to pass Senate’s scrutiny, since foreign affairs is a shared power between the Executive and the Senate.
“Kaya kung mayroong mga ganitong pag-amyenda pagpapalit ng ganitong tratado, daraan talaga sa Senado (So, if there are such amendments changing this treaty, it will actually go through the Senate),” he said.
But on the issue of a joint exploration on the West Philippine Sea, the lawmaker noted the Senate can only conduct an oversight inquiry to check the details of its agreement with China.
And based on his experience as chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, this won’t be easy.
“The intention is good, we can partner and find the oil but it's very difficult and complicated because China will say we must follow their law. On the other hand, we will say that our law must be followed because it is in our area,” Gatchalian said.
“We are in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), so here we don't understand each other on this matter, and I really can't agree to abide by their law because it's like we're saying it's theirs,” he pointed out.