Philippines has 'weak capability' to defend own waters — Sec. Lorenzana

It’s the truth that no one wants to admit.

Department of National Defense (DND) during at the House of Representatives budget hearing admitted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has a "very weak capability" to respond to intrusions in its waters.

During the budget hearing cited the insufficient resources to defend the country's territorial waters.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
(photo credt to owner)

Lorenzana made this comment in reaction to questions raised regarding reports of presence of Chinese warships and survey vessels inside the Philippine exclusive economic zone

In a separate interview with Lorenzana he said, Beijing appears to be "taunting" Manila by deploying warships through Philippine waters.

According to the defense chief, the Philippine Navy(PN) is currently drawing up protocols to challenge foreign warships entering the country's territorial waters.

The secretary, however, clarified that other navies, such as those from the United States. New Zealand, Australian, United Kingdom, Japan and Russia have been passing through Philippine waters, although they inform the government if they are passing through.

China is the only one who passes through Philippine territory without informing the Philippine authorities.

"Ang nakapagtataka lang po doon sa Sibutu Strait ay daan nang daan ang mga barkong pandigma ng Tsina. Di man lang sila nagsasabi," Lorenzana told the House panel.

(What is puzzling is that Chinese warships keep on passing through Sibutu Strait. They don't even tell us about it)

Chinese warships turn off their automatic identification system when passing through the country's waters, the Defense secretary said.

"Had they just told us that they are coming or they are passing through (there would be no problem)," Lorenzana said.

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Report from  Philstar