Philippines
Lacson: With NPA threat reduced, it's time to deal with WPS territorial claim, external threats
Lacson: With NPA threat reduced, it's time to deal with WPS territorial claim, external threats
Now is the time for the government to focus its attention on the security threats in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) which impair the food needs and livelihood of Filipinos, Partido Reporma presidential candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday, March 3 said.
Lacson, chairman of the Senate National Defense and Security committee, strongly advocated this strategy after observing that the threat from local communist and terrorist groups are now being reduced.
‘’The threat from insurgency, let’s say from the NPA (New People’s Army), is getting smaller or being reduced. More areas in the Philippines have their (insurgency) problems lessened, not like back in the day,’’ he said
“So, nabawasan ‘yung internal threat Philippine Army? (With that reduced, why does the Philippine Army need so many soldiers?). Ang kailangan natin ngayon nahaharap tayo sa isang external threat, ‘yung threat galing sa pwedeng mag-invade sa West Philippine Sea,” the former national police chief added (Our need now is to face the external threat, the threat that could come from someone invading the West Philippine Sea),’’ he pointed out.
Therefore, the country should enhance the technical ability of its armed forces, Lacson said.
The Philippine Navy could also use more modern arms, equipment, and ships to patrol the seas, especially the country’s territories in the West Philippine Sea, that are being claimed by China.
In 2016, the United Nations Arbitration Court rejected the historical claim of China over most parts of the South China, including the WPS.
China rejects the UN court decision.
Lacson previously said he is open to a joint venture with other countries to explore the energy resources such as oil and natural gas in the WPS.
He said the country is not limited to just having a dialogue with China on this, as many other nations are interested to help the Philippines on this.
The three-term senator also insisted that the country assert its rights in the WPS by enhancing its presence in the contested region, initially by sending more people like research teams and scientists to Pag-Asa Island, which Lacson and Partido Reporma officials visited last November.
The government should also improve its facilities in its WPS outposts such as Pag-Asa to improve the country’s surveillance and security of our territories there, the presidential bet added.