Nanawagan ngayon si Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez sa Estados Unidos na idonate na lang ang warship nito na USS Philippine Sea sa Pilipinas.
Personal na sumulat si Rodriguez kay State Secretary Anthony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd James Austin III at US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson.
Aniya, ang naturang barkong pandigma na nakatakdan i-decommission ng US sa 2025 ay maaaring magamit ng ating Philippine Navy at Coast Guard para sa pinaigting pagpapatrolya sa ating katubigan lalo na sa West Philippine Sea.
“I am sure that it will be a big asset in our efforts to defend our territorial waters, our sovereign rights, and our personnel and fishermen from intruders,” sabi niya.
Ang naturang US warship na isang Flight II Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser ay ipinangalan sa Battle of the Philippine Sea noong World War II.
Kung maisakutaparan isa aniya itong magandang gesture o pagpapakita ng pinatibay na pagkakaibigan at relasyon ng Pilipinas at Amerika.
“With its historical background and its name being apropos and relevant to the current issue on our West Philippine Sea sovereign rights being illegally challenged by China, may I request that the USS Philippine Sea be donated to the Philippines,” saad sa liham ng mambabatas kina Blinken, Austin and Carlson.| ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
