PH should join ‘peace-loving’ nations in condemning Russia for Ukraine crisis – Lacson

Russian military vehicles are seen loaded on train platforms some 50 km off the border with the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in Russia’s southern Rostov region on February 23, 2022. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said the Philippine government should join “peace-loving” nations in condemning Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

“Makisama doon sa mga peace-loving countries para i-call out ‘yung Russia…Join the community of nations in condemning kasi after all, it is an encroachment on international law,” Lacson told reporters in an interview during his campaign visit in Batangas City when asked about the escalating tension in Ukraine’s borders.

(Let’s join peace-loving countries to call out Russia…Join the community of nations in condemning because after all, it is an encroachment on international law.)

Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense committee, pointed out that the situation could have implications for Manila’s own maritime dispute with China.

“Ang delikado pa sa atin, kasi kung ma-establish ‘yung precedent, na ‘yung Russia pwede pala mag-invade ng sinasabi nilang teritoryo nila, baka mag-establish ng precedent, baka mangyari naman sa atin, ‘yung mga islands natin sa West Philippine Sea,” the senator said.

(What’s dangerous is that if a precedent is established, that Russia can invade a territory it says it owns, a precedent may be established, it may happen to us, to our islands in the West Philippine Sea.)

“Huwag naman sana. ‘Yon ang mga implikasyon na hindi natin mahulaan e [Hopefully that won’t happen. But that’s the implications, we can’t really tell],” he added.

(Let’s not say that we are far from Ukraine, because it will affect us. If there’s a full invasion, a war ensues, the first to take a hit is the stock market. Because the stock market is not standalone, there are foreign investors there. The stock market may crumble, we are all affected.)

Further, Lacson also stressed economic effects should the Ukraine crisis triggers a war.

“Huwag nating sabihing malayo ‘yung Ukraine sa atin ha, may tama tayo diyan. Pagka merong full invasion, nagkagiyera doon, ang tama sa atin diyan unang-una, stock market. Kasi ang stock market natin hindi stand alone ha, may mga foreign investors diyan. Baka mag-crumble ‘yung stock market natin, may tama tayong lahat diyan,” he said.

He pointed out that prices of oil can surge should all nations belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) simultaneously impose economic sanctions on Russia over the crisis.

“Tatamaan tayo niyan indirectly. ‘Yung ekonomiya natin maski papaano may tama. Magkano na ang langis ngayon? 100—almost $100 per barrel na, ‘di ba? Kaya tayo lahat may tama e,” he added.

(We will indirectly take a hit. Our economy will be affected. How much is oil today? Almost $100 a barrel already, right? That’s why all of us will be affected.)

Vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III agrees with Lacson.

“Mas mabuti kung tahimik ‘yung mundo [It’s better to have peace in the world] ,” Sotto said.

“Tama si Senator Lacson, hindi maaaring hindi tayo madamay kahit papaano. Una, ‘yung mga kababayan natin na naroroon. Pangalawa, merong tama ang oil diyan [Senator Lacson is right, we won’t come out of this unscathed. First, we have fellow Filipinos there. Second, the oil prices will be affected],” he added.

“So, ang pinakamaganda, sabi nga, magmahalan na lang sila [So, it’s best, as they say, is to spread love],” he added.

The United States announced new sanctions on Russia in a bid to prevent a full Russian invasion of Ukraine. The European Union, Germany and Britain also said they will impose sanctions.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has earlier assured it stands ready to repatriate Filipinos in Ukraine who wish to come home to the Philippines.

So far, six Filipinos from Ukraine have returned to the Philippines amid the crisis.

/MUF