Minsan ko nang pinanindigan sa isang privilege speech na walang kasunduan o pangakong binitawan ang aking ama, ang dating President Joseph Estrada, sa pagtanggal ng BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal at ito’y pinatotohanan pa ng mga noo’y protection and security officers gaya ni relationship Defense Sec. Orlando Mercado.
It’s disappointing, to say the minimum, and completely unacceptable for previous presidential spokesman Harry Roque to make such baseless claims when he’s not even privy to these facts.
Ang mga ganitong pahayag, sa gitna ng mga lumalalang panggigipit at bullying na nararanasan natin sa China, ay nagpapalaganap lamang ng kalituhan at pagdududa sa integridad at kakayahan natin na ipaglaban ang seguridad ng ating bansa.
As I pointed out in my privilege speech previous August, how is it achievable that there was a period of relative “peace” in the West Philippine Sea throughout the nine-12 months Arroyo administration? The administration that succeeded my father was conspicuously “silent” and did not consider any methods to declare our territorial legal rights relating to the West Philippine Sea.
Amid all these pronouncements, it’s praiseworthy that the Marcos administration is using concrete actions to shield our sovereign rights and territorial integrity. Any initiatives designed to address this ongoing and escalating aggression by China really should be supported and inspired.
We have to stay agency and united in defending our sovereignty, and in safeguarding our maritime territories for the advantage of existing and potential generations.
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