By NG Seruela
Department of Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana clarified that his statements on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) “echo the stand” of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
In a statement on Sunday (May 2), Sec. Lorenzana affirmed that President Duterte has given them a “firm, and straightforward” order, which is to “defend what is rightfully ours without going to war and maintain the peace in the seas.”
“‘Yung nagsasabi na hindi kami align[ed] ng Presidente, let me clarify that my pronouncements echo the stand of our president and commander in chief,” he said.
The DND chief said the Philippines and China “maintain cooperation in various areas that are mutually beneficial to our peoples.”
“We can be cordial and cooperative with other nations but not at the expense of our sovereignty and sovereign rights,” he added.
Lorenzana said that despite China’s advanced military capability, it will not discourage them from defending “national interest, and dignity as a people.” He said the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ patrol in the WPS and Kalayaan Island Group will continue.
“[The] latest developments make it clear that there is a need for all stakeholders to cooperate. They can now take this as an opportunity to advance the values and principles we collectively affirm and profess to respect – including the peaceful settlement of disputes – as partners and as signatories to UNCLOS [United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea] and all relevant international instruments,” Lorenzana said. – jlo
