PNoy told to extend sea patrols, not term

MANILA, Philippines -  If there’s anything that President Aquino should extend, it should be the patrol reach in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and not his term, a former cabinet official said Wednesday.

Former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan said the President should put an end to speculations about a second term and should instead focus on protecting the country’s territorial integrity.

“All these talk and speculation of extending his term is distracting the government and the citizenry from the crucial task of defending the country’s sovereignty and resources in the West Philippine Sea,” Alunan said in a statement.

Alunan, a convenor of the West Philippine Sea Coalition that organized protests against China’s territorial intrusions, said Aquino should harness the national security community to concentrate on securing the country’s sovereignty.

He urged the Aquino administration to adopt a “clear-cut defense policy and strategy” that would dictate the investments in national security. Such policy, Alunan said, should emphasize the need to be sustainable beyond Aquino’s term.

“The Aquino administration’s procurement of additional military and naval equipment is a step in the right direction. But much more needs to be done,” Alunan, who served during the Ramos administration, said.

“Beefing up the quality and quantity of our white ship inventory should be part of a comprehensive defense buildup, free from corruption, to provide the country a credible defense shield,” he added, referring to civilian vessels.

Earlier, Aquino said he is now open to charter change and a second term to pursue the reforms initiated by his administration. The President also complained about the so-called judicial reach, which he claimed, allowed the Supreme Court to step into political questions.

Aquino’s position is a far cry from his previous stance against amending the 1987 Constitution, which was crafted during the term of his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino. He also revealed his change of heart after the Supreme Court had struck down as unconstitutional key parts of his disbursement acceleration program.

As talks about charter change and term extension resound, reports about China’s aggressive activities in the potentially oil and gas-rich West Philippine Sea surface.

The STAR reported early this week that China is building concrete sea barriers on a reclaimed area of the Mabini (Johnson South) Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands.

A Chinese Coast Guard ship also harassed a small fishing boat carrying local officials and journalists on their way to Pag-Asa Island in Palawan last Aug. 1

China is also conducting extended patrols over Recto (Reed) Bank, a potentially oil-rich area 80 nautical miles from Palawan. A source told The STAR recently that Chinese vessels are also putting markers in the area, which is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“President Aquino said that setting foot on Recto Bank is no different from setting foot on Recto Avenue. Well, the Chinese government has not only intruded into our EEZ, it is also unjustly claiming it under the guise of ‘sovereignty patrols,” Alunan said.

“We must exercise the right to protect ourselves right in our own backyard and regain our self-respect,” he added.

Alunan slammed China for violating the United Nation Convention of the Law of the Sea, a treaty that sets the territorial limits of coastal states and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

“The signatories to the DOC, which includes China, agree that claimants to the disputed areas should cease doing provocative actions and refrain from constructing new structures or establishing presence in disputed areas to prevent armed conflict,” Alunan said.