PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision not to invoke the mutual defense treaty between the Philippines and the United States is the right move for the country, international maritime law expert Professor Jay Batongbacal said on Saturday.
In a news forum, Batongbacal said that while there are certain conditions needed to be met to for any conflict to further escalate, the Philippines is right on its decision to take on a more peaceful and diplomatic avenue to resolve issues within its maritime domain.
“Sa tingin ko, iyon po ‘yung punto noong sinabi nga ng Pangulo na it’s not the right time. Tama naman po ‘no, hindi naman puwede na bawat sugat mo eh tatakbo ka na kay ‘Big Brother’,” Batongbacal said.
Batongbacal noted that it is part of the Philippines’ obligation and responsibility to control situations that it may not escalate to any further tensions or even armed conflict.
“Ang atensiyon po nakatuon doon sa article na iyon, Article 4 ‘no, armed attack. Eh mayroon na pong Article 3 ‘no – eh sa Article 3 po malinaw din doon na for any other situation ‘no, iyon pong dalawang partido ay nag-commit na magtutulungan sa pagsagot sa mga challenges sa kanilang security ‘no. So diyan po papasok iyong magiging response dito sa ganitong klaseng situation,” he said.
“Kaya nga po nagtutulungan ang US at Philippines pagdating doon sa operations sa West Philippine Sea – ang minimum po diyan, kita natin information-sharing at saka monitoring, iyong surveillance, malinaw iyan na nangyayari na,” he pointed out.
The defense treaty does not imply immediate call to arms whenever maritime domain conflict happens, he added.
Batongbacal further explained the treaty is already in effect and is not a dormant agreement awaiting to be activated.
“Iyong Mutual Defense Treaty, hindi po siya kumbaga inactive and then i-activate ‘no – it is already enforced between the parties,” he said.
“Ang problema lang kasi doon, mayroong parang misunderstanding, may misconception na ‘pag sinabi mong ‘triggered the Mutual Defense Treaty,” mag-uumpisa ka ng giyera. Hindi po iyon ‘yung konsepto noon,”he stressed. PND*
Sunud-sunod na aksidente sa SLEX dulot ng oil spill mula sa tanker
BUHUL-BUHOL na daloy ng trapiko ang naranasan sa southbound at northbound lane ng SLEX matapos tumagas ang kargang coconut oil ng isang tanker na sumalpok sa poste ng Skyway malapit sa Magallanes area sa Makati City ngayong Sabado, Marso 9, ng umaga.
Ayon sa report, dakong alas-7 ng umaga nang bumangga ang oil tanker sa southbound lane ng SLEX malapit sa Skyway ramp dahilan upang tumagas ang karga nitong coconut oil sa kalsada.
Sa puntong ito, sunud-sunod namang sumemplang ang mga dumaraang motorsiklo kaya napilitan ang mga traffic enforcer na ipahinto ang daloy ng mga sasakyan sa magkabilang lane.
Sinabi sa ulat na inabot ng siyam-siyam bago makaresponde ang crane truck ng SMC Infrastructure para hatakin ang nakabalandrang truck sa SLEX. Nagtulong-tulong din ang iba’t ibang responders sa paglalatag ng buhangin sa konkretong kalsada upang maiwasan ang pagsemplang ng mga motorcycle riders.
Mark Averil Luzon/ Facebook
2,000 Oriental Mindoro residents receive cash, rice aid under revolutionary CARD Program
THE Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program has now reached the province of Oriental Mindoro as a total of 2,000 residents received cash and rice assistance from the revolutionary program that distributes aid by legislative districts of the House of Representatives.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who is the primary proponent of the program, said it is a testament to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s tireless efforts to provide affordable rice to Filipino families and to distribute aid to the vulnerable sectors of society.
“Isa ito sa mga panawagan ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, ang maghatid tayo ng kalinga sa ating mga kababayan na hirap sa pang-araw-araw na gastusin at pagkain. Kaya natin naisip ang programang ito para matulungan ang mga sektor na kailangan ng konting alalay,” Speaker Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives, said Saturday.
“Sa CARD Program, tinututukan natin ang mga vulnerable sector ng ating lipunan, tulad ng mga indigent senior citizens, persons with disabilities, mga solo parents at mga indigenous people o IP. At siniguro natin na mabibigyan natin ang lahat ng distrito sa Pilipinas dahil per district ang ating distribution,” he added.
The CARD Program in Oriental Mindoro was held at the Mindoro State University Gymnasium in the Municipality of Victoria Saturday morning, led by Speaker Romualdez with the assistance of Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor, and Rep. Arnan Panaligan
A total of 50,000 kilograms of rice were distributed to 2,000 qualified residents of Oriental Mindoro. The CARD Program is an aid program where beneficiaries will receive P2,000 in assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) broken down as follows: P1,000 as cash aid and P1,000 for a 25-kilogram sack of rice.
All the beneficiaries are identified by the DSWD, and they include senior citizens, PWDs, solo parents and IPs.
Speaker Romualdez has earned the nickname “Mr. Rice” not only for his programs involving rice distribution especially to indigent and vulnerable Filipinos, but also for his tough stance against rice smugglers and their government cohorts.
“Ang bigas ay buhay. At hindi natin pababayaang mawalan ng access sa murang bigas ang ating mga kababayan. Kaya ang lahat ng aming pagsisikap dito sa Kamara ay nakatuon dito sa pagpapamura ng bigas, kasama na ang pagtugis sa mga rice smugglers,” Speaker Romualdez said.
The last CARD Program distribution was held in Sultan Kudarat, where a total of 500,000 kilograms of rice were distributed to residents of the Mindanao province.
Initiated last year, the program seeks to provide cash and rice assistance to qualified Filipino families, which will be identified by legislative districts.
The pilot distribution was done in Metro Manila, covering all its 33 legislative districts, and in Biñan City and Sta. Rosa in Laguna.
