Senator Francis Tolentino on Monday, May 1, sought a clearer definition of the Philippine territory under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States. In a radio DZBB interview today, Tolentino, vice-chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, suggested the inclusion of territories where the Philippine government currently exercises "sovereign rights." “Kung ako po ang mag a-amendya nito… hindi lamang sa metropolitan territory, sa land mass island territory (ng Pilipinas) sa Pacific Ocean, mayroon pang iba ((If i were to amend the MDT, it is not only the metropolitan territory, the land mass island territory because there are others). Kung liliwanagin po iyan, pwede pong idagdag: where it exercises  sovereign rights (If that were to be made clearer, we should add: Where it exercises sovereign rights),” he said. Tolentino issued the statement in connection with the upcoming meeting between President Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ R. Marcos Jr. and United States President Joe Biden wherein, defense, security, and other geopolitical matters are expected to be discussed by the two leaders. The senator suggested a new provision in which, “any attack on a place where it exercises sovereign rights (for both parties) would trigger MDT.” “Yung where effects on the exercise of sovereign rights, puwede siguro pag-usapan para maliwanag na kapag inatake tayo sa ating exclusive economic zone, ay pasok na pasok sa Mutual Defense Treaty as amended (We could clarify the effects on the exercise of sovereign rights in that the MDT comes into play when there is an attack in Philippine exclusive economic zone),’’ he said. This is important considering the current geopolitical tension of claimant countries in the South China Sea region, particularly in the disputed territories located in the West Philippine Sea, the lawmaker pointed out. Tolentino stressed that the mere presence of the American military in the region is already “a psychological reinforcement itself of our historical ties with the United States.” “Malaking bagay po iyon na alam natin na-andyan sila (The presence of the American military is a big factor). So sa halip na gumatos po tayo ng malaki para ma improve yung sandatahang lakas, mayroon tayong kaalyado na handang tumulong (So instead of spending so much on improving our military, the Philippines has a strong ally ready to help,’’ he said. Tolentino also suggested for the Philippine government to seek an upgraded compensation, not only under the MDT but also with other existing treaties with the world’s ‘super power,’ specifically the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the recently expanded Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which would be given to local government units (LGUs) that would be hosting those non-permanent U.S. bases in the country. “Dagdagan at i-klaro rin yung itutulong pamahalaang lokal na magho-host—siguro dapat matulungan sa kanilang educational system, magtayo ng eskwelahan, at kung mayroong kapabilidad na magtayo ng maliliit na ospital kasi marami namang mga doktor ang sandatahang lakas ng Estados Unidos (Local government units that would host the US military should be given assistance in their educational system, construction of schools and if they are not capable of constructing small hospitals the  US has many doctors),’’ he added. At this turning point of the "modern warfare" era, Tolentino also sought the inclusion of a "cyber-attack" provision under MDT considering that the battlefield right now it’s not just only about the conventional armed conflict, but it also include the skirmishes along the cyberspace, noting that there are reports of the so-called "state-sponsored" cyber-attack. “Kasi kung magkaroon ng cyber-attack sa banking system natin, collapse po lahat yan—armed attack din po iyon (It is considered an armed attack if there are cyber-attacks on the banking system because they will collapse). Kapag inatake din po yung mga government institutions po natin gaya nung nangyari na may data leaks daw sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), ay considered as armed attack din po iyon (It is also considered an armed attack if there are attacks on government institutions, such as data leaks at the National Bureau of Investigation),” e said. Tolentino emphasized that he wants an amendment of Article 5 of the 1951 MDT, to include provisions on attack on cybersecurity especially when it would be made on critical infrastructure of the governments and other vital installations, considering that it might jeopardize the overall operations of either parties. “Kapag nag cyber-attack, sira pati ang banking system. Sira pati lahat ng critical government infrastructures—brownouts, blackouts nationwide, pati telecommunications (A cyber-attack destroys critical government infrastructures - brownouts, blackout nationwide and even telecommunications),’’  he added. He explained that a counterattack during a state-sponsored cyber-attack “should be commensurate” and doesn’t need a direct confrontation with the opposing party.