Chiz: Other countries shouldn't interfere with PH strengthening military

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Sunday that no country should interfere with another country trying to strengthen its ability to defend itself.

Escudero made this assertion during an interview on Super Radyo dzBB when asked regarding China’s claim that the Philippines was threatening regional stability with its ongoing military modernization program.

“Ano mang pagpapalakas para sa depensa ng isang bansa, hindi dapat pakialamanan o mag-feeling ang ibang bansa na para lang ito sa kanila. Ito ay para sa atin, para sa depensa at seguridad ng ating bansa,” Escudero said.

(Whatever is being done to strengthen the defense of a country, other countries should not interfere or feel that it is directed at them. It is for us, for the defense and security of our country.)

This after the United States approved a sale last week of $5.58 billion in F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter-jets to the Philippines, as Washington backs its long-time ally in rising tensions over China.

Asked if the possible major defense upgrade would gain Senate support, Escudero clarified its possible funding and payment scheme.

“Hindi lang naman iyan ang bibilin natin kung saka-sakali. Tsaka MYCA [multi-year contractual authority] yan. Hindi iyan isang gastusan, $5 bilyon o kulang-kulang P300 bilyon sa isang taon. Iyan ay MYCA. Multi-year allotment iyan at inaasahan ko na hanggang 10 o 15 taong babayaran iyan kung mag-oorder man tayo. 

(That's not the only thing we'll buy if ever we do. Also, this is MYCA. It's not a one-time expense, $5 billion or about P300 billion in a year. That's MYCA, a multi-year allotment and I expect that it will take up to 10 or 15 years to pay for it if we order it.)

“Pero yung sinasabi ng Amerika na binigyan tayo ng allocation na bumili, hindi pa naman tayo nagsasabi na bibilin natin iyon at hindi pa din naman sinasabi kung kailan at hindi pa din naman sinasabi gaano katagal natin babayaran iyan,” he added.

(What America is saying that we have been given an allocation to purchase. We haven't said yet that we will buy what they have offered and we haven't said when and we haven't said how long we will pay for it.)

Aside from the Lockheed Martin F-16, Sweden is also offering the Saab Gripen as a multi-role fighter for the Philippine Air Force

Aside from aircraft, the Armed Forces of the Philippines also plans to acquire modern warships and several missile systems from India and South Korea. It is a move the Senate president supports.

“Para sa akin, tama lang na palakasin natin ang ating sandatahang lakas para mag-provide ng deterrence. Ito ay pang defense, hindi po ito pang offense. Pero hindi naman na nangangahulugan na hindi tayo bibili ng ibang kagamitan na kinakailangan para sa agrikultura, para sa edukasyon, para sa kalusugan. Ano man pagbibili natin ng armas, sang-ayon sa Saligang Batas, hindi pa rin puwedeng lumagpas iyan sa i-aallocate natin para sa sektor ng edukasyon sa kada taunang budget kabilang na ang mga utang na dapat bayaran,” he said.

(For me, it is only right that we strengthen our armed forces to provide deterrence. This is for defense, not offense. But that does not mean that we will not buy other equipment needed for agriculture, for education, for health. Whatever weapons we buy, according to the Constitution, cannot exceed what we allocate for the education sector in each annual budget, including the debts that must be paid.)

On Beijing’s reaction that the Philippines is  “threatening regional peace” with its plans to purchase more warships, missile systems and multi-role fighters, the lawmaker said these efforts are not directed at China. 

“Hindi naman naka-direct sa ano mang bansa. Nu'ng nagpalakas ang Tsina ng kanilang sandatahang lakas, nagreklamo ba tayo? Pinigilan ba natin sila? Ang Japan na nagpapalakas din ng sandatahang lakas. Tandaan mo ang Japan din sinakop ang Pilipinas," Escudero said.

(It's not directed at any country. When China strengthened its military, did we complain? Did we stop them? Japan is also strengthening its military. Remember, Japan also occupied the Philippines.)

The F-16s that the Philippine government plans to procure from the United States may be available for delivery in tranches starting in 2026 at the earliest, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Sunday.

In his recent visit to the Philippines, United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored the importance of deterrence amid threats in the South China Sea. —RF/KG, GMA Integrated News