BACOLOD City – The General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) based here and in Negros Occidental has urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to prioritize the West Philippine Sea issue in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.
Wennie Sancho, GAWA’s secretary-general, emphasized the critical nature of this issue following an incident involving the Chinese Coast Guard on June 17, 2004, which saw allegations of bullying and harassment against Philippine maritime forces.
Despite provocations and physical assaults on Philippine Navy personnel, the Filipino forces have maintained composure, preventing the situation from escalating into armed conflict.
Sancho highlighted the urgency of addressing this as a national security concern during the SONA, citing potential threats to the country’s sovereignty.
Drawing on the insights of Norberto Gonzalez, former National Security Adviser and Secretary of National Defense, Sancho echoed concerns about the growing threat of a Chinese invasion, which Gonzalez outlined in a recent column in the Manila Times.
The column warned of the narrowing window to address these threats effectively, emphasizing the need for national preparedness against such extreme contingencies.
Sancho also referenced Rafael Alunan, former Secretary of Interior and Local Government, who described China’s actions as a “creeping invasion” of the Philippines. He argued that Filipino nationalism should rise above the fear of domination by foreign powers, praising the Filipino spirit of resistance and resilience as essential qualities that should be integrated into the national defense strategy./PN
