Dela Rosa hopes US won't leave Philippines ‘in the cold’ if conflict arises

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa wants the government to secure an assurance from the United States that the country would not be "left in the cold" should a conflict arise in the West Philippine Sea.

In an interview Monday, Dela Rosa said he expected the West Philippine Sea issue would be raised during the meeting between US Vice President Kamala Harris and Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during the US official's visit to the country.

"Dapat we can get the assurance from them na talagang all out sila sa atin pagdating sa kagipitan. Pagdating ng kagipitan dapat di tayo iiwan," Dela Rosa said.

"Kailangan sigurado tayo. Mahirap na 'yung we will be left in the cold when the situation arises," he added.

Although he said that Harris' visit to the Philippines was an "indicator" that the US was here for the Philippines, Dela Rosa hoped that the ties with the superpower would not be "one-sided."

"I hope the relationship is mutual. Dapat hindi one-sided. Hindi gamitan kundi mutual. Tulungan tayo," Dela Rosa said.

"Kung ano ang nakalagay sa ating mutual agreement, ay paninindigan nila yon at talagang totohanan ang kanilang suporta kung kinakailangan natin. Maniguro lang tayo," he added.

During Harris' courtesy call on Marcos at Malacanang Palace, the US Vice President said that attacks made against Philippine forces in the South China Sea would invoke the United States' mutual defense promises.

"We are both proud members of the Indo-Pacific and in particular as it relates to the Philippines. I will say that we must reiterate always that we stand with you in defense of international rules and norms as it relates to the South China Sea... An armed attack on the Philippine Armed Forces public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments," Harris said.

"And that is an unwavering commitment that we have to the Philippines," Harris told Marcos, noting that the alliance between the US and the Philippines is a "strong and enduring one."

Marcos, for his part, emphasized that the partnership with the US had become more important, saying that Harris' visit to the Philippines was a "strong symbol" that ties remained robust.

During his state visit to the US last September, Malacanang said the United States recognized the Philippines as a "partner" especially when it comes to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

In 1951, the Philippines and the US governments signed the MDT.

Article V of the said treaty states that "an armed attack on either of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the Parties, or on the Island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific."

Harris arrived in Manila on Sunday night. She is scheduled to visit Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Tuesday where she was expected to remark on the importance of international law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. — DVM, GMA Integrated News