Lacson: Maritime exercises with powerful nations a ‘strong message’ vs possible invaders

Senator Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

CANDELARIA, Quezon — To send a “strong message” against possible invaders of the Philippines, the country should invite militarily powerful nations for joint maritime exercises, presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate defense committee, said this in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has triggered widespread condemnation from the international community.

According to Lacson, he has long been suggesting that the country strengthen its alliances with “equally powerful and equally militarily strong countries” even before the recent Russia-Ukraine crisis.

“Mag-invite tayo ng maka-joint exercises natin na ibang bansa [We should invite countries for joint exercises],” he told reporters after a dialogue with tricycle operators and drivers here.

“Yung willing sila, pero ‘di na sa land, subukan natin sa dagat. At the same time, we send a strong message dun sa kung sinumang nagiisip ng aggression na naka-ready tayo along with our allies in the whole world,” he added.

(Those who are willing, but no longer on land, we should do it in the seas. At the same time, we send a strong message to those thinking of aggression against us, we are ready along with our allies in the whole world.)

“Hindi makaporma kasi alam nila meron tayong kakampi, kasi kung alam nilang tayo lang, anytime, pwede nilang pag isipan na lusubin,” Lacson further said.

(They can’t get into position because we have our allies, because if they see that we are alone, anytime, they can think of invading.)

He cited the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between Manila and Washington, which calls for both nations to come to each other’s defense in case of an armed attack.

“Nakipagpulong na kami ni Senate President (Vicente Sotto III) sa mga embassy officials, medyo natalakay namin ng konti yan. Bakit natin ‘di i-enhance? Di na na-suspend ang VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement), samantalahin natin ang defense establishment,” said Lacson.

(I and the Senate President have previously talked with embassy officials, and we could tackle it a bit. Why not enhance it? The VFA suspension also did not push through, we should take advantage of the defense establishment.) 

Lacson issued these remarks amid the invasion of Ukraine. Last week, he called on the Philippine government to join “peace-loving” nations in condemning Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

The senator had 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,” Lacson 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.)

On Monday, the Philippines joined nations in the “explicit condemnation” of the invasion of Ukraine, as it voted in favor of a United Nations resolution calling out such action.

JPV