‘Sea row hardest security challenge under Noy’

MANILA, Philippines – For outgoing Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, the country’s maritime row with China was the hardest security challenge his department faced during the Aquino administration.

“The most difficult issue that we were confronted with was the China issue. It was really difficult in the sense that we do not know how to tackle it,” Gazmin told defense reporters to whom he bade farewell yesterday.

Gazmin, who is stepping down as defense chief today, also admitted having thought of resigning but was prevailed upon by the Aquino family.

He said the West Philippine Sea issue has stirred debates among Aquino officials, who eventually agreed to take the legal tack in addressing the issue, particularly through the filing of a case before the UN arbitral court in The Hague.

“Hindi naman kami nagbabangayan (We didn’t fight among ourselves); debate is the word, coming out with an acceptable solution or acceptable move to face the issue. You know President Aquino is very systematic in handling and deciding over the issue,” Gazmin said.

There were times, Gazmin admitted, that he felt alone and not getting enough support from members of the official family. He declined to give details, saying he is planning to write a book about his experience in government.

Gazmin said he has written two books: “Security Challenges” and “The Shadow of the Flag.”

“Many times, sometimes you get discouraged because you feel the cooperation is not there, as if you’re feeling that you’re left alone and of course your first impulse is to quit. There were times you have in mind that was correct to do but after exerting all your efforts to this, the leadership would dismiss and disapprove it,” Gazmin said.

But he said he was able to overcome challenges, including false accusations regarding his actions during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas.