Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte AP Photo/Wong Maye-E
MANILA — Kabayan Partylist Rep. Harry Roque said President Duterte made the “correct decision” to question the United States’ alleged building of permanent arms depots in the country.
“An independent foreign policy should mean that we should not allow any world power to use our territory in a manner injurious to others,” he said in a text message.
Roque, who as a lawyer had questioned the country’s military agreements with the United States before the Supreme Court in the past, cast doubt on the purpose of building an arsenal as “she doesn’t support our claim to West Philippine Sea islands.”
Meanwhile, he backed Duterte’s “urgent” appeal for China to provide precision-guided missiles to aid the fight against militants in the South that allegedly has built ties with Islamic State.
“China can provide assistance vs ISIS and other militants in a manner that will not invite retaliation from these extremist groups,” he said. SFM