00:00 With the threat posed by the Chinese to our territorial waters, the call for a more capable
00:05 armed forces is growing even louder by the day.
00:08 Thus, it comes as no surprise that many lawmakers are very supportive of allowing more government
00:14 allocation to the DND for its modernization program.
00:19 Melales Moras has more.
00:22 We will not back down.
00:24 We will continue to be doing what we are doing.
00:27 And we will continue to build up alliances with like-minded nations in order to enforce
00:34 international law.
00:36 This was the firm statement of Defense Secretary Guilbao Teodoro when asked by some lawmakers
00:41 on the issue on the West Philippine Sea and the recent incidents which took place in the
00:45 disputed territory between the Philippine and Chinese Coast Guards.
00:49 Teodoro, along with other key officials of the Department of National Defense and its
00:54 attached agencies, were at the House of Representatives earlier today for deliberations on their proposed
00:59 budget for 2024.
01:01 Meanwhile, the new map of China featuring its 10-dash line coverage was also brought
01:06 up and the DND chief said it's a clear proof of China's expansionist agenda.
01:13 When China states that we are puppets of the United States or other hegemons, in order
01:21 to contain them, they implicitly admit by using the word "contain" that they have an
01:27 expansionist agenda.
01:29 And that is proven by the new administrative map where they added another dash line.
01:35 So that is the best evidence of their expansionist agenda to dominate the whole South China Sea
01:41 and perhaps beyond.
01:43 Secretary Teodoro clarified the country's stand on the issues regarding the United States
01:47 and China on the West Philippine Sea.
01:50 "It's like we're trying to defend our sovereignty against one country by giving up our sovereignty
01:57 to another country.
01:58 Also, Madam Chair, Presidential Envoy to China, Teddy Boy Oluksin Jr., said the Philippines
02:04 has no plans of going to war with China.
02:07 Pero bakit po natin hinahayaan yung US na para ba ang footing na ay magkaroonan ng digmaan
02:14 sa West Philippine Sea?
02:15 Hindi po ba yun dangerous para sa atin tsaka sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin?"
02:21 "Hindi po ganun ang aking pananaw.
02:25 Sino ba ho nagwa water cannon?
02:27 US ba po o China?
02:29 Sino ang nasa war footing?
02:30 Tayo ho ba o sila?
02:32 Sa akin po malayo po at ayoko pong magkagera.
02:34 At ako po ay very, very cognizant na kailangan natin ang independent foreign policy.
02:41 For example, ang China po kailangan po natin at napakalaking merkado niyan.
02:46 Pero kung patas po ang laban, wala po silang inaako na territoryo natin, di sana po wala
02:52 tayong problema."
02:53 For fiscal year 2024, the DND is seeking for close to P230 billion in funding, which part
03:00 of it will be used for further modernization.
03:03 Several lawmakers expressed full support to the DND, especially since it plays a vital
03:08 role in keeping our national security intact.
03:11 Melales Moras for the Nation.
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