Tinalakay ni Department National Defense(DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ang mga isyu hinggil sa West Philippine Sea Dahil sa
kanyang matibay na pagtatanggol sa Arbitral Award ng ating bansa sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), kamakailan ay tinawag si Sec. Teodoro ng
Beijing na persona non grata na hindi maaaring pumasok sa Tsina kasama ang kanyang pamilya. ERIC OCAPAN
MANILA, Philippines – Nilinaw ni Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. nitong Linggo, Agosto 2, ang naunang pahayag nito na humihiling sa public officials na magbitiw na lamang sa pwesto kung tututol na ipaglaban ang polisiya ng bansa sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), at sinabing ang pahayag na ito ay hindi batay sa paniniwala, kundi sa paglabag sa batas o established regulations.
Sa pahayag ni Teodoro, sinabi niya na ang tungkulin ng opisyal ng pamahalaan ay malinaw at ito ay ang ipaglaban ang batas ng Pilupinas kaugnay sa WPS, patikular ang Administrative Order (AO) No. 29, series of 2012, na opisyal na tumukoy sa mga maritime areas sa kanlurang bahagi ng Philippine archipelago na West Philippine Sea.
“Since the AO was issued in pursuance of and under law, it forms part of the law of the land. Public officials are sworn to obey and uphold all laws, rules, and regulations issued in accordance with law,” ani Teodoro.
Idinagdag pa niya na kung ang opisyal ay hindi susuporta sa maritime policies ng bansa ay dapat nila itong hamunin sa korte.
“If a public official cannot uphold these, then the duty is clear! Uphold or file an action to declare the rule or law unconstitutional. Until that time there is no option but to uphold the law. If a public official cannot conform to these requisites then the only option is to resign,” dagdag ni Teodoro.
Kinwestyon din ng opisyal ang mga kritiko kung nilalabanan ba ng mga ito ang posisyon ng bansa sa United Nations (UN), na nangangasiwa sa international law at maritime agreements, kabilang ang UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Are they opposing this move before the UN? If they do, they must state this clearly and by doing so they will have left a mark in our history and they will be remembered by future generations, our people, soldiers, and most especially they will have never been forgotten in Masinloc, Zambales, where the fishermen are most affected by China’s illegal and fabulist activities call home,” sinabi ni Teodoro.
“How will they be remembered? I guess the answer is obvious. Fake news once again has reared its ugly head,” dagdag pa niya.
Matatandaan na binatikos ni Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte si Teodoro sa naunang pahayag nito at sinabing ang mga elected official ay pinili ng tao at hindi ng defense secretary.
“Hey, Gibo, slow down. You didn’t choose the elected officials; the Filipino people put them in office. If you have evidence that they are traitors to the country, then file the appropriate charges and present the evidence. Stop repeatedly demanding resignations as if you own the government,” sinabi ni Duterte.
Dito pa pinalutang ni Duterte ang umano’y dual citizenship ni Teodoro na dati a nitong pinabulaanan.
Sinabi rin ni Duterte na ang trabaho niya bilang Defense Secretary ay hindi upang isagawa ang “loyalty tests” sa elected officials. RNT/JGC
