INCUMBENT and former senators have pressed President Duterte to convene the National Security Council to tackle the brewing West Philippine Sea issue amid increasing incidents of China’s intrusions in Philippine territory.
In response, Palace officials said on Thursday the President was considering inviting former presidents of the country to a meeting on the issues in WPS.
“It is high time that the whole of government comes up with a clear and united stand on the West Philippine Sea issue,” said Senator Grace Poe in a statement, adding that “convening of the National Security Council ASAP would be a timely intervention.”
She reminded Malacañang Palace, “we cannot be divided as a nation when we talk about our sovereignty,” asserting that “protecting territorial integrity is so vital to a country’s survival that we must not confuse it with friendship or utang na loob.”
Poe stressed that, “this is the country’s resources we are talking about. There shouldn’t be any debate as to whether we should protect it or not. There is only one constitutional answer—we should. The only thing left for us to discuss now is how.”
At the same time, former Senator Rodolfo Biazon, urged the Executive to convene the NSC to craft a unified position on the West
Philippine Sea.
Biazon, a former Armed Forces chief of staff before joining the Senate, prodded Duterte to take the lead in addressing the issue.
He voiced concern that officials from the civilian and uniformed sectors seen to be conveying different positions. “The different pronouncements of the President, Cabinet members, lawmakers and ex-lawmakers and experts on the issue spawns danger and confusion,” he said, adding that even China may get confused and take aggressive action against the Philippines.
Biazon added that even other allies of the Philippines are likely to get confused and uncertain and be reluctant to help the Philippines counter China’s intrusions in its exclusive economic zone.
The former AFP chief-turned senator stressed that the President alone cannot decide what actions the government will take on the policy concerning the West Philippine Sea as the issue involves “national security and food security.”
He noted that the NSC, presided by Duterte as chairman, is composed of top officials of the Executive branch, including the Departments of National Defense and of Foreign Affairs, leaders of Congress and heads of the AFP and PNP.