Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (File photo)
MANILA – Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday defended President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for not mentioning in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea.
In his manifestation, Cayetano addressed Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III saying he disagrees with the latter's statement expressing disappointed over Marcos' SONA.
"You know, part of me agrees with you na magandang ma-emphasize (that it was better emphasized), but part of it is also the balance. You know, the amount of information that the President has, the amount of intelligence, is different sa atin (from us)," Cayetano said urging WPS claim advocates to continue pushing for the country's sovereign rights.
"Tama na itulak ninyo pero bigyan niyo din ng room ang ating leaders kasi yung ekonomiya natin at kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan, andali pong sabihin pagkinonfront ang China, para to sa fishermen. Pero ano ang effect on the ground? Male-lessen ba or madadagdagan yung harassment? Ano ba ang epekto sa fishermen na kumakain din ng bigas? Tataas ba ang presyo o hindi (It is right that you push for it but give our leaders some room because our economy and welfare of our people are at stake. It is easy to say to confront China for the sake of our fishermen. But what is the effect of this on the ground? Will the harassment be lessened or will it increased? What is the effect of this to our fishermen who also consume rice? Will its price increase or decrease)?" he asked.
Cayetano, who served as Department of Foreign Affairs secretary during the time of former president Rodrigo Duterte, urged Filipinos not be submissive and not be bothered by China's actions, but noted that assertions to territorial claims should be equipped with historical backgrounds, especially on security concerns of superpowers.
During an interview with the Senate media, Cayetano also dismissed assertions that if the Philippines stops insisting its win through the 2016 Arbitral Ruling over WPS, the country would weaken its claim.
"Yun nga ang sinasabi ko sa inyong misinformation. Maraming paulit-ulit, kahit sa media yung mga nagpapa-interview na kapag hindi ka nag-protest, hihina ang ating claim. Hindi totoo yun. Hindi ito katulad ng korte na kapag hindi ka nag-ingay, hindi ka nagpo-protest, hihina yung claim mo (That's misinformation. Many, even in the media interviews, have been saying that if we don't protest, our claim will weaken. That's not true. This is not like the court that when you don't create noise, protests, your claim would weaken)," he said.
In his contra-SONA delivered in the Senate plenary on Monday, Pimentel expressed his disappointment over Marcos' "silence" on Chinese incursions in the WPS, as well as the recently expanded Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
"There are two related areas where the President is given under our Constitution great authority: national defense and international relations. Hence, it was disappointing not to hear from the President in the SONA his explanation or point of view in the subject matters of the West Philippine Sea,” Pimentel said.
The Senate is yet to schedule interpellations by other senators with Pimentel's contra-SONA. (PNA)
