Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has hailed President Marcos for establishing defense cooperation agreements with more countries, in this case Germany.
“The signing of a defense cooperation framework between the Philippines and Germany on Thursday is the right step in the right direction,” Rodriguez said in a statement Friday morning, May 16.
The recently reelected congressman reckoned the Philippines just needs to forge more parts like this.
The latest document was signed by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius during the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in Berlin.
“I am urging PBBM to negotiate more of this arrangement with other countries. It will strengthen our defense posture in relation to the raging dispute in the West Philippine Sea,” Rodriguez said.
It would also isolate China before the international community, he said.
He said the willingness of other like minded nations to enter into a defense cooperation agreement with the Philippines “means that they support our assertion of our economic, sovereign and territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)".
It also reflects their recognition of the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidating China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, he added.
The Mindanao lawmaker also thanked President Marcos for remaining steadfast in protecting the country’s interest in the disputed waters.
“The defense cooperation arrangement with Germany is the newest proof of this steadfastness. Let us support him in safeguarding national interest and our rights in the [WPS],” he said.
The Philippines-Germany agreement includes cooperation on cybersecurity, defense armament, logistics, and United Nations peacekeeping, according to the Department on National Defense.
It is the latest such arrangement with an increasing number of countries. Last month, the Philippines signed a defense agreement with New Zealand for expanded military cooperation, and a similar deal with Canada is expected to be signed soon.
President Marcos has approved the start of negotiations with France for a visiting forces agreement, similar to the one the county has with longtime ally, the United States (US).
US, Japan and Philippine forces have just recently concluded the Balikatan joint military exercises in Northern Luzon.