Hinimok ni Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez ang military na idaan na lang sa pamamagitan ng airdrop ang resupply sa mga tropa ng sundalo na nakadestino sa Ayungin Shoal imbes na ilantad sa kapahamakan ang ating mga tauhan at mga sibilyan sa karagatan.
Kasunod na rin ito ng panibagong pambobomba ng tubig ng Chinese Coast Guard sa sibilyang barko na inarkila ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) para dalhin ang supply sa BRP Sierra Madre.
“Let’s end this practice. I do not see the rationale for using civilian boats and crew in delivering supplies to our soldiers whose presence in that remote part of the West Philippine Sea symbolizes our national sovereignty and territorial integrity there,” ani Rodriguez.
Ayon sa Mindanao solon, mas maigi na gamitin ng AFP ang air asset nito.
“We should use the air assets of the Air Force and the Navy to drop the things our patriotic soldiers in Ayungin need. The danger Air Force and Navy personnel would face in those missions is the same as that civilian boat crew have to contend. But unlike civilians who are just doing a civic duty, it is the responsibility of the military to resupply our troops in Ayungin and protect our country’s national sovereignty and territory,” dagdag ng mambabatas.
Maaari aniya na magkaroon ng decoy planes at mag-deploy din ng military videographer at photographer na sisiguro na may tamang documentation ang resupply missions.
Maaari din aniya na hilingin ng Department of National Defense (DND) at AFP sa ating mga kaalyadong bansa, gaya ng US para sa surveillance.
Sa ganitong paraan, mas mahihirapan aniya ang China na harangin ang ating resupply mission.
“They would have to intentionally crash their aircraft with ours or shoot down our planes. We don’t want that to happen, but if it happens, then our Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States will come into play,” aniya.
“We should not be avoiding the Chinese there. They should be the ones avoiding us in our territory. In fact, they should stop intruding in Ayungin and Scarborough Shoal off Pangasinan and Zambales, and any part of our 200-mile exclusive economic zone,” sabi pa ni Rodriguez. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
