Enrile: US deployment of spy planes part of defense treaty

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said that Malacanang’s plans to request the US to deploy spy planes over the West Philippine Sea should be seen as part of its responsibility to help the Philippines.

“The Americans are obligated under the mutual defense treaty to help us. That is the purpose of the treaty, that’s a security treaty and it is the obligation of the Philippines to help America and in the reverse it is the obligation of America to help the Philippines,” Enrile said in an interview with reporters late Wednesday at the reception for Queen Sofia held at Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq’s residence in Makati City.

The reception for the Queen had about 500 delegates from Spain in attendance.

On Monday, President Benigno Aquino III said that he may ask the US to deploy spy planes over the West Philippine Sea to help monitor the disputed waters.

Enrile said the move should not be seen by China as escalating tensions in the area, saying they would “portray themselves as an aggressive predatory power” if they do so.

“I don’t think China will fire a bullet. It would be most foolish for them to do that,” said Enrile.

“They will alienate the public opinion of the world. They will portray themselves as an aggressive predatory power that would threaten the peace of Southeast-Asia and maybe of Asia given their size,” he added.

Enrile said that the country should continue to solve the dispute through diplomatic means and should press China to agree to bring the dispute issue to a third party, the International Court of Justice.

Enrile said that China’s refusal to do so showed that their position was “legally weak.”

Enrile also pushed for a Charter Change to improve military spending in the national budget, saying restrictions prioritizing education should be removed during times of threats to national security.

“I am in favor of prioritizing education but we must remove that restriction and leave it to Congress to determine at a given time especially during peaceful periods in our history to allocate more for education but in case of need when there is a threat to the national security of the country then congress should be able to provide the necessary funding above the amount allocated for education because of necessity,” Enrile said.