Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 11) — Sen. Bato dela Rosa said he is okay with realigning some confidential and intelligence funds of government agencies to the country’s defense, especially fortifying the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.
\”Refurbish o ayusin o whatever, basta just to alleviate the living condition of the marines living inside that ship and to concretize our claim over that Ayungin Shoal, kailangan hindi basta-bastang hilahin lang ‘yan ng China [it should not be easily hauled by China],\” he told reporters on Friday.
Dela Rosa suggested “i-semento yung ilalim ng barko para ma-fix na ‘yan siya doon, mas maganda [cement the bottom of the vessel to affix it there, it would be better].”
BRP Sierra Madre, a former US Navy ship used during World War II, has been stationed since 1999 on Ayungin Shoal, where it was intentionally grounded to serve as a military outpost in the contested waters.
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When asked if he was okay to transfer some of the confidential funds, Dela Rosa said, \”Yes…in terms of prioritization, para sa akin [for me], there’s no other priority na mas higher pa [which is higher] than defense. Kailangan talaga natin ‘yan dahil number 1 sa akin, number 1 priority ang defense [For me, defense is the number 1 priority].\”
The Marcos administration is looking to secure some ₱10.14 billion in confidential and intelligence funds for next year.
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