Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso yesterday assured he sets aside politics when it comes to help being extended to Manilenos.
Domagoso said this as the city aided the residents of Sagrada Familia in San Andres, Manila whose homes were recently razed by fire.
In another development, Domagoso also vowed to implement a massive modernization of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard purportedly to improve the country’s defenses on its western coast, particularly the West Philippine Sea.
“It’s high time for us to redirect most of our resources in the Armed Forces to reinforce our capacity in that part of our country. Our waters from Tawi-Tawi to Batanes, we need to have the presence of our Navy,” he said in a radio interview over DZRH.
“That’s why, about two months ago, I said we will reinforce our capability with regard to our Navy and Coast Guard. We need to invest (in naval defense) because we are an archipelago country,” Moreno said.
Based on information relayed to him, Senator Bong Go was also set to give the residents of San Andres some form of assistance.
The Manila mayor said he is thankful for the help and noted it does not matter if the one helping belongs to the same political camp or not.
“During these times, politics should not prevail. Hindi lang welcome ang lahat, thank you very much if they will help my people in Manila because they indeed need assistance,” said Domagoso.
Meanwhile, the Manila mayor related that for the sixth straight day on Friday, the number of active, COVID cases in Manila remained below 100. On December 9, the total was at 91 with one death.
Domagoso said Manila has been doing well in its fight against COVID-19 since the number of active cases in the city continues to dive.
Just the same, he advised the residents not to be complacent, to continue being vigilant and to still wear face masks all the time, in the wake of the Omicron variant.
Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna said quarantine facilities in Manila have remained vacant for several months now, a proof that the city’s aggressive mass vaccination program is already reaping its benefits.
Moreno was referring to an earlier dialogue with fisherfolks in Botolan, Zambales where he vowed to be “fearless” in asserting the Hague Ruling, and build the country’s capacity to defend its waters in securing unimpeded access for small fisherfolk to abundant fishing grounds.
The 47-year-old presidential aspirant made the statements following the latest episode of Chinese incursion in the West Philippine Sea. Last month, three Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked and fired water cannons to drive away Philippine ships en route to transport supplies to military personnel in Ayungin Shoal.
This drew protest from the Philippine government, which asserted that the shoal is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Besides preventing the occurrence of similar incidents, Moreno said modernizing the Navy and the Coast Guard will also ensure that Filipino fishermen will enjoy “undeterred, peaceful, and productive fishing opportunities” in the disputed areas.
“Like my interaction with fishermen in Zambales, I made a guarantee that we will fish in our ocean, in our sea, within our territorial jurisdiction. We will be fearless in such a way that we have to follow our victory and this must be understood by other countries that are also members of it,” he said.
Moreno was referring to the countries who are also signatories of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, also called Law of the Sea Treaty, which is an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities.
“In the same manner, I think the Chinese government will come to its senses that if we prove to ourselves that we are respectful, we have to do some actions like what Widodo did. Maybe sometimes it’s necessary, there’s also a shock to see them with us because it’s ours. We will not go to war, we just have to position ourselves in a very strong manner,” said Moreno.
Defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea is part of Moreno’s “Filipino First, Philippines First” policy, and a major factor in achieving his government’s goal of food security.
“First things first. Food security is a threat to national security. We must fish and we will fish in the West Philippine Sea. That is a guarantee that I made to Filipino fishermen. And we will be loyal to our country. We will be loyal to our fellow Filipinos,” he said.
In a separate interview with reporters Thursday, Moreno vowed to fight for the country’s claim over Sabah should he be elected as President.
“We must pursue it the way we do with the West Philippine Sea. If it is ours historically and we have a valid claim about it, then we must pursue it,” Moreno told reporters during his listening tour in Malabon.
“In a civilized world, in a civilized time, we must abide by law and order. And if there is a forum for that, like the United Nations, we, we will not stop. We will be fearless in claiming what is ours,” he said.
Moreno stressed that his administration will focus on legal means to pursue the country’s claim over Sabah.
“What I want, when we use force, is the legal method. Let us not give in to heat and passion. Maybe later, we will be wrong,” he said.
“What matters most is, like the West Philippine Sea, we won. We have power. We can fish there. We can repel foreign ships, military men, or civilians, which are their fishermen. We must capture it because we are a sovereign country,” Moreno added.
Sabah was previously known as North Borneo before the formation of the Malaysian Federation in 1963. It lies about 500 kilometers from the Philippines.
Although Malaysia controls the territory, the Philippines has been attempting to advance its claim over Sabah since 1961.
“One of the jobs of the President is to protect the country and its people. Iyon ang unang trabaho at iyon ang gagawin natin. We will be fearless in addressing that, and we will be fair in dealing with them and we’ll be faithful to every Filipino. That’s how we are going to approach it,” Moreno said.