Members of the Philippine Army and United States Army during the balikatan exercise last year (Juan Carlo de Vela/MANILA BULLETIN)

The Office of the President (OP) has maintained that the foreign policy of the Marcos administration is anchored on the notion that the Philippines will not be subservient to any external force, including the United States (US).

Navotas lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco--speaking on behalf of the OP as its budget sponsor in the plenary debates--says President Marcos has underscored that the country is “friends to all, enemy to none”.

“Hindi dapat tayo mangamba na tayo ay pupunta sa giyera dahil lahat po ng diplomatikong paraan para ma-avoid ang conflict ay ginagawa po,” said Tiangco.

(We should not fear that we will go to war because all diplomatic methods to avoid the conflict are being done.)

He gave this assurance after ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro cast doubt on the Philippines’ close ties with the US as the dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) continues to complicate matters.

“Yung pagdami ng (The increase in) EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) bases, balikatan exercises, war-provoking missile systems sa (in) Ilocos Norte, tapos (then the) agreement for cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, or ‘yung (the) 123 Agreement. Parang ready for war ang gobyerno (The government seems ready for war),” Castro said in her interpellation.

“Ang sinasabi ng presidente ang foreign policy daw niya ay grounded on peace. Bakit kabaliktaran ang ginagawa ngayon (The president says his foreign policy is grounded on peace. Why is he doing the opposite now), are the US and the Philippines preparing for war against China?” she asked.

Tiangco says that Marcos’ demeanor toward foreign policy is a testament to the belief that the Philippines is intent on maintaining peace.

“He is a very peace-loving and patient person,” the lawmaker noted.

Castro, meanwhile, said that the government should focus on solving the WPS dispute against China through a “political and diplomatic approach”.

“Sana po huwag tayong magpakatuta sa US,” she stressed.

(I hope we won’t be subservient to the US).

“Definitely, I can assure our dear colleague na hindi tayo magpapakatuta sa US (that we will not subservient to the US,” Tiangco said in response.