SOME senators have expressed support for the recent maritime cooperative activity or MCA between the United States, Philippines, and Australia.
According to Senate President Chiz Escudero, he will always support cooperative actions with our allied nations to strengthen our capability to protect our territories.
However, the Senate President says he still hopes that the time will come when we can stand on our own two feet to protect and execute our sovereign territorial rights.
Majority leader Francis Tolentino is also convinced that the recent Maritime Cooperative Activity in the country with the US, Japan, and Australia, will strengthen the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and other legislation connected with our territorial claims in the West Philippine Seas.
Tolentino said that he was the first to propose the “quad military maritime exercise” among the Philippines, US, Japan and Australia, which is happening now.
He also emphasized that the MCA now happening shows that other countries recognize our rights in the West Philippine Sea and that they are ready to conduct joint patrol exercises. He also said that we will determine who will join in the joint patrol exercises.
Senator JV Ejercito, for his part, said that the MCA is good and that right-minded nations and allies can help rid the West Philippine Sea from the harassment and bullying of China.
At the moment, there are pending legislation in the Senate that are connected to the West Philippine Sea, which are the Blue Economy Act and the creation of the Center for West Philippine Studies and National WPS Day. (PR)
