00:00 The committee hearing in the Senate is about the issue of the mutual defense treaty of the country and America
00:06 because of China's repeated clashes with Philippine ships in the West Philippine Sea.
00:11 Bea Bernardo has the story.
00:13 The United States has repeatedly said that the mutual defense treaty
00:20 could be used in China's repeated harassment against our ships in the West Philippine Sea.
00:26 The latest incident is the water cannon of the China Coast Guard
00:30 against our ships while they were doing a resupply mission.
00:33 So the question of the judges is, can the water cannon be considered an armed attack?
00:37 The provisions of the guidelines say cyber attacks and non-conventional threats.
00:44 Is the water cannon non-conventional?
00:48 If you ask the Bureau of Fire, it's conventional.
00:52 If you ask the Philippine Coast Guard, it's unconventional.
00:57 The Foreign Affairs Department said that the two countries are still studying this aspect.
01:02 The government also said that it is not yet time to activate the mutual defense treaty.
01:07 The Department of National Defense requested an executive session
01:11 to ask what is the plan for the rehabilitation of BRP Sierra Madre.
01:15 The Defense Department is open to all options to protect the territory of the country
01:21 and the soldiers destined there,
01:23 including the US ship that will join the resupply mission of BRP Sierra Madre.
01:29 We are exploring all possibilities, all options regarding the RORE,
01:34 regarding the rotation and resupply of our personnel to the UN.
01:39 As of now, we can still handle the situation.
01:44 Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said that he has not received a proposal from China
01:49 to discuss the issue in the West Philippine Sea.
01:52 Not me, I'm not aware of any.
01:54 But I mean, we're willing to talk.
01:57 Next week, the China-ASEAN discussion and the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea
02:02 were held in the Philippines.
02:04 The lawmakers recognized that the Armed Forces of the Philippines
02:09 should strengthen our self-reliance in the use and assets of our territory.
02:14 Senator De La Rosa also said that the DND budget for the AFP modernization should be increased.
02:20 The committee also discussed the landing of several US military planes in the South China Sea
02:25 that did not receive clearance.
02:26 It was heard that although the United States received clearance,
02:30 including diplomatic clearance,
02:32 the US did not recognize its ground handler in the country
02:35 that he should recognize the Manila International Airport Authority
02:39 for the landing of their airplane.
02:41 We have already called the attention of the US Embassy to this
02:45 and they have provided us assurances that they will try as much as possible
02:52 not to make this happen again.
02:54 I don't think anyone is in a position to say it's absolutely never going to happen again.
02:58 But we definitely will be more vigilant in terms of monitoring and vetting all of these requests.
03:03 The National Security Council also stated that they monitor daily
03:07 the foreign planes that arrive in the country.
03:10 Beyo Bernardo for the nation.
03:12 (upbeat music)
