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Solon questions increased 'sovereignty fund' under proposed DND budget for 2021
By ERWIN COLCOL,GMA News Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas on Tuesday questioned the increase in the proposed allocation of the Department of National Defense (DND) to protect the country's sovereignty.
During the House appropriations panel deliberations on the proposed P283.2-billion budget of the DND for 2021, Brosas pointed out that the department's "sovereignty" fund has increased to P41.4 billion.
The said item only had an allocation of P33.96 billion under the 2020 General Appropriations Act.
Brosas said the increase in the sovereignty fund ran counter to the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorezana to not involve Philippine troops in the naval exercises in the South China Sea (SCS).
"Kaya kine-kwestiyon natin sa DND how will the P41.4 billion is spent kung walang gagawin ang AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) sa China's military exercises," she said.
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Lorenzana, in response, said the Philippines continues to patrol the country's territories in the South China Sea, including those within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
"Yung exercise nila diyan ay ginagawa nila sa labas ng ating EEZ, ang exercise ng Tsina. 'Yung exercise ng mga Amerikano, ginagawa nila sa SCS, kasama na yung EEZ natin. Pero hindi tayo sumasama sa kanila dahil unang-una merong utos si Presidente na huwag tayong makipag-exercise sa mga Amerikano diyan sa SCS lalo na sa ating mga disputed area," he said.
"Kung talagang kailangan natin makipag-exercise sa mga Americans, pwede nating gawin sa ating territorial waters, diyan sa Sulu Sea, hindi sa disputed areas," he added.
While Lorenzana confirmed the continuous presence of Chinese military troops in the West Philippine Sea, he said the country is not surrendering its claim over the disputed territories in the area.
"Napakalawak ng West Philippine Sea and the Navy has limited assets and also the Air Force. But we are trying our best with our limited assets to assert our sovereignty over the area," he said.
The DND is proposing a P283.2-billion budget for 2021, of which P208.7 billion are regular funds and P74.5 billion are for the pension for AFP retirees and war veterans.—AOL, GMA News