NAGPAHAYAG ng pagsuporta si House Committee on Ways and Means chairman at Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda sa pagpapalakas ng alyansa ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos sa gitna ng tensyon sa South China Sea.

“I support the strengthening of military ties between our countries, and I also support our joint effort to modernize the Philippine military,” ani Salceda.

Ginawa ni Salceda ang pahayag matapos lumabas ang survey ng Pulse Asia na nagsasabing 75 porsyento ng mga Pilipino ang pabor na palakasin ang military ties ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos.

“As I have also repeatedly stated, I also support a clearer stance by the US about the extent to which it will defend the Philippines under its treaty obligations with us,” dagdag pa ni Salceda.

Naniniwala si Salceda na ang pagnanais ng mga Pilipino na palakasin ang alyansa ng bansa sa US ay bunga ng mga ginagawa ng China sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), na bahagi ng South China Sea.

“This consensus would not have hardened if China respected our place in the community of nations co-owning the South China Sea. Its claims impinge upon international law, and Filipino unity over this topic is a product of a sense of national indignation. If China wants less public support for US bases in the country, it could begin by respecting our internationally-recognized claims,” dagdag pa ni Salceda.

Sa Pulse Asia survey na isinagawa mula Hunyo 19 hanggang 23, tinanong ang mga respondent kung sila ay pabor na palakasin ang military alliance ng US at Pilipinas. Tanging 14 porsyento ang ayaw dito, dalawang porsyento ang kulang umano ang kaalaman sa isyu, at walong porsyento ang hindi masabi ang sagot.

“I think the partnership with the US is critical,” sabi pa ni Salceda.

Samantala, iginiit ni Salceda ang pangangailangan na gawing moderno ang kagamitan ng mga sundalo.

“We need to modernize not only our equipment, but also our doctrine, our personnel training and capability, our intelligence capabilities, as well as our ability to fight asymmetric warfare,” dagdag pa ni Salceda.

Itinutulak ni Salceda ang pagbili ng mga bagong artillery system at mga eruplanong pandigma.

“I have advocated for the acquisition of artillery systems such as the HIMARS as well as air superiority craft such as F-16s for quite some time already, and they are now being used in the EDCA. We can practice using them, and I believe they will be deployed in US bases here, without us having to buy them. But, we need our own,” wika pa ni Salceda.