Saludo! Ping lauds DFA chief for stern warning vs China

Sen. Panfilo Lacson lauded Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. Saturday for warning China of “severest response” if China’s army drills in the South China Sea spill over to the Philippines.

In a radio interview, Lacson said Locsin’s response is by far the strongest warning the Philippine government has made to China.

“By far yan ang pinakamalakas na warning na ginawa ng Philippine government through Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin. Maganda kasi pinakikita talaga na tinatayuan natin ang ating sovereignty,” he said in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“I’m thankful and I am gratified na marinig si Sec Locsin mismo na nag-issue ng severest warning. That’s the way to go. And I salute him for that,” he added.

Still, Lacson said the Philippines should seek cooperation from its allies on the matter as it remains questionable if the Philippines can back up its warning on its own.

On Friday, Locsin warned China of “severest response” if its military exercises in the South China Sea spill over to Philippine territory.

Locsin said the Philippine government views “with interest and some concern” reports on Navigation Notice No. 00-69 regarding the conduct of military exercises by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the South China Sea, particularly in waters off Paracel Islands from July 1 to 5.

“But ang tanong uli, kaya ba natin mag-isa? Diyan papasok ang lagi kong sinasabi rin na meron tayong Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States and what we cannot do because of our weakness, militarily and as a country, pwedeng umasa tayo sa MDT kung saan ang balance of power mama-maintain,” Lacson said.

He said it is good that the Philippines suspended the termination of its Visiting Forces Agreement with the US because the Philippines “cannot stand alone as a country especially in the midst of incursions, intrusions ng military ng China, mga PLA. Hindi natin kaya.”

“Mabuti rin meron tayong agreement with Australia. Ang community of nations especially long-standing allies, ngayon natin kailangan dahil meron naman tayong tratado sa kanila. Baka naman pwedeng makipagugnayan tayo agad dahil lumalala ang sitwasyon diyan,” he added.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)