DND chief in constant talks with PBBM on WPS ‘paradigm shift’

DND Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. (Photo: Department of National Defense – Philippines/Facebook)

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday said he is in constant communication with President Ferdinand R. Macros Jr. regarding the “paradigm shift” in addressing issues in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“We are continuously in communication and we are working towards that end, that’s all I can say for now,” he said on the sidelines of the turnover, acceptance, and blessing rites of the Japanese-made air surveillance radar system at the Wallace Air Station here.

Marcos earlier raised the need for a “paradigm shift” after noting that “very little progress” in the WPS issue in terms of the “traditional method of diplomacy”.

Teodoro also took exception to China’s claim that the Philippines is provoking trouble in the South China Sea.

“I just want to react, I think there was a comment that the Philippines is provoking activities here and that we are creating trouble in the South China Sea as stated by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. My response to that is that only China believes in what they are saying. Truth and in fact, no country in the world, none, supports unequivocally their claim to the whole of the South China Sea,” Teodoro said.

The DND chief added a lot of countries backed the Philippines’ sovereignty, jurisdiction and sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone and other WPS areas where it exercises territorial jurisdiction.

“And no country in the world, none, to this type has condemned the Philippines in what its doing. That is the best proof of what I said,” he added.