Uphold PH sovereignty, rights – Duterte; 2019 nat’l budget signed soon – Palace

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Filipino people should continue to uphold the country’s sovereignty and protect hard-won rights and freedoms, President Duterte stressed recently.

Be brave like our forefathers and their allies, Duterte said.

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The President issued the call for heroism during Tuesday’s celebration of the Araw ng Kagitingan

“It is my hope that we will all be inspired to remain steadfast like our forefathers and their allies in upholding our sovereignty and in protecting the rights and freedoms that our people enjoy today,” Duterte said in his message.

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Duterte paid tribute to the valor of Filipino troops and American soldiers who fought Japanese invaders in World War II.

“Today, we remember the heroism of the brave Filipino and American soldiers who stood side by side in the mountains and jungles of Bataan in defense of our liberty and democracy,” he said. * **

The President also cited the countless civilians who helped the allied forces in the “valiant defense against the overwhelming force of the enemy” during the Japanese Occupation.

“I join our veterans, allies, and the rest of the Filipino people in commemorating Araw ng Kagitingan,” he said.

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“We may not be able to memorialize all of them, but we will forever remember and honor their epic struggle and unshakeable fortitude,” Duterte said.

Bravery, heroism, the Bataan Death March and the brutality of war remembered. ***

The President skipped the 77th Araw ng Kagitingan rites at the Mt. Samat National Shrine in Bataan and instead decided to mark the historic event in Sulu,where he visited Camp Bautista in Jolo,

Stressing “kagitingan” also in the Southern Philippines.

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Duterte had earlier asked China to play it cool in the South China Sea and not to touch Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, the main island feature in the Philippine-occupied Kalayaan Island Group, amid a military report on a surge of vessels from a Chinese fishing fleet around the island.

“I am asking you, I will not plead or beg, but I’m just telling you, lay off the Pag-asa because I have soldiers there. And if you lay a finger on them, it’s another story. I will tell my soldiers, prepare for a suicide mission,” the President was quoted as saying during a recent campaign rally in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan province. ***

Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin asserted anew Philippine rights in the West Philippine Sea, reiterating the government stand that there will be no surrender of rights despite recent partnership and loan agreements with China.

“The stand is that it is ours. And they took it. World’s highest court ruled that. Period,” Locsin said in a Twitter response, referring to the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) which favored the Philippines case challenging China’s sweeping claims of nearly the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.

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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also recalled that during his March 1 visit to Manila, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed that the US government would come to the Philippines’ aid should there be any “armed attack” in the disputed South China Sea.

Time for greater diplomacy (GD). No to friction, tension, and war (FTW). ***

President Duterte will soon sign into law the 2019 national budget which suffered a delay in Congress.

Vetted and with some items vetoed. But better late than never, Malacañang said.

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Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the approval of the 13.7-trillion national budget, after Malacañang review, will allow the government to catch up on infrastructure spending and avert growth slowdown.

No to a reenacted budget and “usad-pagong.” Yes to a duly approved budget and speedy economic growth.