Panelo says US envoy told him MDT cannot be invoked ”without armed aggression”

June 20, 2019

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday said he was told by US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim that the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) cannot be operational without “armed aggression”.

In a TV  interview, Panelo said he discussed with Kim the recommendation of Senator Panfilo Lacson Jr. on invoking the MDT.

Lacson earlier said the MDT would be “the only weapon in our arsenal” following the Recto Bank incident but he clarified that he is not calling for war but only a “balance of power” over the West Philippine Sea.

“He (Kim) said: I never said it will be operational without an armed aggression,” said Panelo, also presidential legal adviser.

However, Panelo  did not say when he met Kim.

“There should be armed aggression, but we still don’t know if it’s an accident or intentional. And if it’s intentional, can we consider this as armed aggression? Is this initiated by the Chinese government? Is this considered as an act of aggression? That’s why we need to investigate,” he said.

Panelo said whether intentional or not, the Chinese fishing vessel should compensate the damage done to the Filipino fishing vessel.

“There is no doubt because there is suffering so there should be consequences,” he said.

“But right now, it’s in the process of investigation… let’s wait for it. Anyway we have a diplomatic protest, and they assured (us) that they will investigate and if they found (the vessel) at fault, they will impose action (and) they will not allow irresponsible action,” he added.

On the request of the fishing boat captain to make Recto Bank an exclusive fishing ground for Filipinos, Panelo said it should really be exclusive for them.

Asked on the why they were foreign vessels during the time of incident, he said the vessels may be passing by.

“We have this called rite of passage but we still need to investigate why they are there (Recto Bank),” said Panelo.

Last June 9,  twenty-two Filipino fishermen were abandoned by a Chinese fishing vessel after ramming at them along the Recto Bank.  Ella Dionisio/DMS