PINURI ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa panibagong tagumpay nito sa pagsusulong ng karapatan ng Pilipinas sa pinag-aagawang teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Ang tinutukoy ni Speaker Romualdez ay ang naging pagsuporta ni Czech Republic President Petr Pavel sa posisyon ng Pilipinas na dapat kilalanin ang rules-based order sa WPS at tiyakin ang pagpapatuloy ng malayang paglalayag sa lugar.

Si Marcos at Pavel ay nagkaroon ng bilateral meeting kung saan natalakay din ang pagpapalakas ng kooperasyon ng Pilipinas at Czech Republic sa iba’t ibang larangan gaya ng defense at cybersecurity, gayundin ang paglikha at paggamit ng modernong teknolohiya.

“The exceptional diplomatic efforts of President Marcos paid off with the expression of full support of President Pavel to the stance of the Philippines in defense of our right and sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea,” ani Speaker Romualdez, lider ng Kamara na mayroong mahigit 300 miyembro.

“Support from countries like the Czech Republic significantly reinforces the Philippine position and amplifies the international voice dismissing China’s sweeping claims over the area. It could also help promote a rules-based approach to resolving maritime disputes by international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Si Speaker Romualdez ay kasama sa opisyal na delegasyon ng Pangulo sa apat na araw na pagbisita nito sa Czech Republic.

Matapos ang bilateral meeting, humarap ang dalawang lider sa isang joint press conference kung saan sinabi ni Pavel ang kanyang pagsuporta sa Pilipinas sa isyu ng agawan ng teritoryo sa WPS.

“As to South China Sea we fully support the Philippines when it comes to their entitlement to free movement of goods and also very intense support because that’s a principle that, not only we all respect but, which also secures global and regional stability,” ani Pavel.

Pinuri rin ni Speaker Romualdez si Pangulong Marcos sa pagsusulong nito na mapaganda ang relasyon ng dalawang bansa.

“Such cooperation can bolster the Philippines’ defense capabilities, enhance maritime security in the region, and contribute to deterring potential threats to our sovereignty and territorial integrity in the West Philippine Sea,” sabi ni Romualdez.

Sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na matagal ng katuwang ng Pilipinas ang Czech Republic sa pagpapalakas at modernisasyon ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Ayon kay Speaker Romualdez maaaring makatulong ang mga kompanya sa Czech Republic sa implementasyon ng Re-horizon 3 phase ng Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP) na nakasentro sa pagpapalakas ng archipelagic defense capability ng AFP.

Binigyan-diin ni Speaker Romualdez ang kahalagahan na mapalakas ang cyber security ng Pilipinas at makakatulong umano dito ng Czech Republic.

“In today’s interconnected world, cybersecurity is a critical component of national security. Strengthening cybersecurity capabilities can help safeguard both countries’ critical infrastructure, protect sensitive information, and mitigate the risks posed by cyberattacks, including those originating from state-sponsored actors,” dagdag pa ni Romualdez.

Makakatuwang din umano ng Pilipinas ang Czech Republic sa pagpapa-unlad at paggamit ng modernong teknolohiya sa larangan ng defense, telecommunications, at innovation.

“Advancements in modern technologies such as AI, surveillance systems, and communication networks can enhance the Philippines’ capabilities in maritime domain awareness, intelligence gathering, and disaster response, which are particularly relevant in the context of the South China Sea,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.