Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. on Thursday defended funding for military bases covered by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States, saying the country needs to spend on them despite assistance from Washington.
“This is American aid and logistics assistance, but these are Philippine bases… We really need to spend [on them]. If not, then we lose our independence,” Teodoro said during a congressional hearing that eventually approved the Department of Defense budget of P229.93 billion for 2024.
At the hearing of the House committee on appropriations, Teodoro also defended the government’s move to restore strong ties with the United States, after Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said this might be giving up the country’s sovereignty.
“We are defending the rules-based international order. What constrains other countries is international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Our allies are enforcing the UNCLOS,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro said China’s 10-dash line map, which claims Philippine territory as its own, was evidence of Beijing’s “expansionist agenda.”
While the Philippines is taking the diplomatic route in asserting its rights over the West Philippine Sea, it should also continue to upgrade its defense capabilities,” he said.
“Who is shooting water cannons at us? The US or China? Who is on war footing, us or them? I don’t want a war,” Teodoro said.
“We will not back down. We will continue to do what we are doing. We will continue to build alliances with like-minded nations in order to enforce international law… When China states that we are puppets of the United States and other hegemons in order to contain them, they implicitly admit by using the word contain, that they have an expansionist agenda, and that is proven by the new administrative map where they added another dash line. So that is the best evidence of their expansionist agenda, to dominate the whole South China Sea and perhaps beyond,” he added.
Amid such threats, the funding deficiency for the revised Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program is at P328.57 billion, he said.
“It would leave gaps in our command and control, gaps in ouractivities to deter… and detect incursions in the West Philippine Sea and our overall defense posture,” Teodoro told the panel.
He also defended the P75 million budget allocation for the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group, which comes from the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The Commission on Audit earlier flagged the expense, noting that the security detail for the vice president increased more than four-fold to 433 people in the second half of last year, when Sara Duterte assumed the post.
The appropriations committee, headed by Ako-Bikol party-list Rep.Elizalde Co, later approved the DND’s budget of P229.93 billion for 2024.
“As we move forward with this budget, let us do so with the knowledge that a strong and well-funded defense is the foundation upon which our nation’s prosperity and peace depend,” Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, senior vice chair of the House appropriations committee, said.
Quimbo also urged her fellow legislators to support the DND budget proposal, recognizing its crucial role in maintaining peace within Philippine territory and defending its borders.
She added that the DND is a pillar of resilience and humanitarian support when the country faces adversities, particularly natural disasters.
Teodoro told the panel that the DND was reviewing its strategic thrusts “given the volatility in certain areas” it has responsibility for.
The DND’s allocation under the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) is 12 percent higher than its 2023 funding of P204.56-billion.
During the budget hearing, Teodoro explained that the DND is compensating for the defense improvements that were not carried out in previous years.
In other developments:
* AFP chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., emphasized the role of the multi-role fighter (MRF) project under the Revised AFP Modernization Program during the courtesy visit of the Swedish Ambassador Annika Thunborg to the General Headquarters. Among the preferred military jet fighters of choice by the Philippines is the SAAB JAS-39 Gripen Multi-role Fighter Aircraft from Sweden. “The CSAFP and Ambassador Thunborg discussed the acquisition of multi-role fighters and the recent developments in the West Philippine Sea. The ambassador likewise expressed that Sweden stands firmly behind the Philippines in the protection of its territory and territorial integrity as well as the international rules-based order and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, said.
* Teodoro received Luc Véron, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines, during his courtesy call at the National Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo on Sept. 6. The Philippine and EU sides committed to deepening defense relations in light of recent developments in the maritime domain and the effects of climate change. Secretary Teodoro expressed appreciation for the EU’s support for the Philippines, especially as the country moves towards a period of transition and transformation. Véron lauded the Philippines’ efforts in upholding international law and the rules-based international order.
* Philippine Navy Commodore Carlos Sabarre, the commander of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao officially declared the Maritime Training Activity MALPHI LAUT 24/23 open during its kick off in Panacan, Davao City on Sept. 4. The exercises involve sailors from the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Philippine Navy.