DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says Philippines still needs agreements and military aid from the United States.
Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana released a personal opinion after President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants American troops to leave the Philippines.
On Wednesday, Lorenzana said in a television interview that he believes Duterte may have been misinformed about the state of the Philippines’ joint military exercises and defense agreements with the United States.
Duterte even questioned if the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is binding without the signature of former President Benigno Aquino III.
Lorenzana said he would meet with the leaders of the Philippine military to (–foul word(s) removed–)s the military exercises and defense agreements with the US.
According to him, the evaluation will start in one to two weeks.
“Pagka-na-(–foul word(s) removed–)s natin ito, mabibigyan natin ng magandang information si Presidente para naman makapag-(–foul word(s) removed–)s siya nang maganda…kasi mukhang misinformed lang siya ngayon…hindi lang siguro nainform si Presidente na mayroon ngang pakinabang,” he said.
[Translation: After we (–foul word(s) removed–)s this, we will be able to give the President good information so that he may also (–foul word(s) removed–)s well…because it seems he is misinformed right now..perhaps, he has not been informed that there is benefit to it.]
“Siguro mabiyan lang siya ng tamang information para naman makita niya, para iyong mga sinasabi niya ay tumpaksa mga facts ng mga nangyari,” he said.
[Translation: Perhaps, the President just needs correct information so that his pronouncements are according to the facts of what happened.]
As a DND secretary, Lorenzana also believes that the Philippines still needs the assistance of the US military as the country continues to fight the Abu Sayyaf and other possible security threats such as ISIS.
“Well, as of now, dahil mahina pa tayo, kailangan natin sila dahil kailangan natin ng ally, ally with a strong country,” he said.
[Translation: Well, as of now, because our country is still weak, we still probably need them. We need a strong country for an ally.]