Nagpahayag ng buong suporta ang miyembro ng Young Guns na si 1-Rider Party-list Representative Rodge Gutierrez sa paghahain ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ng diplomatic protest laban sa China.
Kasunod ito ng mapanganib na pagpapakawala ng flares ng Chinese fighter jets sa dinaraanan ng Philippine Air Force na nagsasagawa ng patrolya sa Bajo de Masinloc.
Ayon kay Gutierrez, isa na namang ‘creative tactic’ ang ginawa ng China para mam-bully dahil maging sa ere ay may mga paraan na sila.
“I cannot speak on behalf of Congress but I’m pretty sure everyone will agree, I don’t think may kokontra dito, we support 100% the diplomatic protest. Dati dun sa West Philippine Sea, they would find ways of having actions of war and ngayon kahit sa air mayroon na po silang mga paraan by using flares. So, we agree with the position of the President. We agree definitely and we support the diplomatic protest that is being filed by the DFA, and you can count on our support more than just words,” sabi ni Gutierrez.
Muli ring tiniyak ng minority solon na kaisa sila sa pangako ni Speaker Martin Romualdez, na suportahan ang Sandatahang Lakas pati na ang Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) upang mabantayan ang atring teritoryo.
Inaabangan na rin aniya nila ang pagsalang ng budget ng Department of National Defense at kung paano pa nila ito masusuportahan. “Personally, I think all the congressman here are excited to hear Sec. [Gilberto] Teodoro’s proposal for the next budget and they can count on our full support po dun. We will be supporting their budget whatever that they may need, for as long as kaya po ng fiscal space,” dagdag ng mambabatas. | ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
