Malinaw na intrusion o panghihimasok ang ginawa ng China matapos mamataan ang dalawang Chinese research ship sa Benham Rise nitong March 1 ayon kay Ways and Means Committee Chair at Albay Representative Joey Salceda.
Diin ni Salceda, ang Benham Rise o kilala rin bilang Philippine Rise ay sa atin.
“The West Philippine Sea might be a condominium among our neighbors. But China has absolutely no place in the Benham Rise. That’s exclusively ours. They’re intruders — pure and simple,” giit ni Salceda.
Aniya, tama ang tugon ni Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro na palakasin ang technological capabilities ng ating Sandatahang Lakas para sa pagpapatrolya.
Gayunman, hindi aniya sapat ang pagpapatrolya dahil kailangan igiit natin ang ating karapatan sa lugar.
Kaya naman makikipag-ugnayan din si Salceda kay National Defense Committee Chair Raul Tupas kung paano mapopondohan at mapapadali ang pagbili ng makabagong military hardware.
“I am working with my colleague, Chairman Boboy Tupas of the National Defense Committee in the House to make it easier to finance and acquire advanced weapons and military hardware. The House has already passed its version and we are merely waiting for a bicam with the Senate,” sabi pa ni Salceda. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
