Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte asks Senator Grace Poe regarding her stand on the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China. SCREENGRAB FROM TV5
Senator Grace Poe said that if elected as the country’s next president and commander-in-chief, she would push for an increase in the defense budget to defend the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea from Chinese incursion.
Asked by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on what she would do if she is told that China has already invaded the disputed islands, Poe said that she will first wake up and call the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Poe said that that the budget for the defense department should be increased.
“Hindi nangangahulugan na maliit tayong bansa ay hindi na natin pag-ipunan (Just because we’re a small country doesn’t mean we cannot save for it),” Poe said.
She also asked for the UN arbitration court to decide on the case filed by the Philippines against China. In addition, Poe said that the Philippines should ask the cooperation of other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to force China to follow a code of conduct.
“Kailangan nating makipagsapalaran kasama ang (We need to enjoin other) Asean countries to constructively engage China to follow a code of conduct,” the senator said.
“Kung kinakailangan ay katukin ko ang pinto ng bawat bansa na panindigan nila ang Unclos. Ito ang realidad: kapag nagsama-sama ang mga bansa para sabihan ang China na ‘mali ka,’ tayo pa rin ang mananaig,” Poe said.
(If I need to knock on the doors of different countries to encourage them to support Unclos, I would. This is the reality: “If we unite with other countries to tell China that it is wrong, then we will prevail.) IDL
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