Manila Philippines – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro believes that the residents of Pag Asa Island are safe from the Chinese invasion despite the China Coast Guard’s continued bullying of our Philippine ships in the West Philippine Sea.
Teodoro said this in their visit at Pag Asa Island along with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva, Senator JV Ejercito.
They visited the Island for groundbreaking of new facilities aimed at enhancing health services and strengthen military presence in the area.
According to Teodoro, it is important occuppy the islands in the Kalayaan Island Group in order
to develop the said territory of the Philippines.
“Sa tingin ko po, safe sila eh. Because no right-thinking nation will attack civilians,” Teodoro told reporters in the Island.
In addition to this, not only the military should be on the island but there should also be civilians because the undersea and subsea resources belong to them.
“Kailangan po natin ang civilian dito because this is for them. This is not just purely for military purposes. Ang beneficiary nito ay civilians. Ang resources, ating undersea and subsea resources para sa inyong lahat. So importante po may civilians dito. Kailangan po natin i-habitate ito para maging sustainable,” he added.
He also said that among the beneficiaries of their development on the island are the small fishermen instead of going to Palawan.
“Also, for a business case scenario, sa ating mga small fishermen, kailangan, imbes na magpalaot sila galing mainland Palawan, you might as well establish sustainable communities here,” the defense chief stated.