Sea dispute remains top ‘security challenge’ for PH — Esperon
THE West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute remains to be the top concern to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the government’s security cluster.
“The dispute over the West Philippine Sea remains to be the foremost security challenge to the Philippines’ sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Cabinet cluster said in its National Security Policy presented during Wednesday’s pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) conference in Pasay City.
At the same time, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who represented the security cluster, said the military has deployed troops in islands within the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands), Tawi-tawi and Batanes.
Esperon said troops were deployed at Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, Rizal (Commodore) Reef, Kota (Loaita) Island, Parola (Northeast Cay) Island, Likas (West York) Island, Patag (Flat) Island, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Lawak (Nanshan) Island and Panata (Lankiam Cay) Island.
In Tawi-tawi, Esperon said that military forces were sent to the islands of Mardanas and Panguan and to the northern front or in Batanes in the islands of Mavulis and Itbayat. DEMPSEY REYES
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