2022 Political candidate's views on Defense issues.

[Spartan2]

Disclaimer: I am not attempting to endorse a particular candidate as I myself have not decided yet on who to root for this upcoming election.

Rather I simply want to compile the different statements of the candidates to get a better view on how they plan to handle our defense and security issues.

This thread is also not limited to presidential aspirants but to any candidate's past actions, statements or legislative work that affect our security and defense programs

[Spartan2]

May nagsasabi bumili tayo ng patrol boats, ‘yung mga jets, para kung sakali mapalaban tayo. Bakit natin iisipin ‘yun kung mapalaban tayo, tapos ang gyerang ‘yan wala pang isang linggo tapos na yan. Talo na tayo, wag na natin isipin ‘yun,”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/newsinfo.inquirer.net/1492366/bongbong-parrots-duterte-on-west-ph-sea-we-dont-stand-a-chance-vs-china/amp

[Spartan2]

https://www.rappler.com/nation/isko-moreno-wants-use-united-states-alliance-improve-maritime-defense

I want to protect the country, make it stronger, and position ourselves in the next 20 years so that such thing that happened in West Philippine Sea will not happen anymore in other remaining islands," said Moreno.

"While we deal with that today, I will protect whatever is left by reinforcing our shore, our water, our jurisdiction, and that, I think, is the most sensible thing I can ask [from] our American allies or other countries," he continued.

[hotandwild]

May nagsasabi bumili tayo ng patrol boats, ‘yung mga jets, para kung sakali mapalaban tayo. Bakit natin iisipin ‘yun kung mapalaban tayo, tapos ang gyerang ‘yan wala pang isang linggo tapos na yan. Talo na tayo, wag na natin isipin ‘yun,”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/newsinfo.inquirer.net/1492366/bongbong-parrots-duterte-on-west-ph-sea-we-dont-stand-a-chance-vs-china/amp

I don't like his statement. Why he think that we have to go to war just to protect our country? We have to remember that it is our responsibility to protect our sovereignty. And that's the reason why we equip our end.

[adroth]

Is "defense" in this context limited to just weapons, or will it also encompass measures that actually allow the country to mount an effective defense over the duration of a protracted conflict?

Here are Singapore's "5 pillars": http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=2083.0

"War" is not only about weapons. Warfare comes in many forms.

Will "legislative work" be limited to pushing for a larger budget for defense, or include structural matters?

An example of the latter is one CRITICAL achievement in 2010 that made all the acquisitions from the Aquino administration onward possible. The formalization of the DND's IRR with regard to Multi-Year Obligational Authority.

http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=2876.0

The vast majority of fanbois don't understand how pivotal that development was.

How are geopolitical considerations factored in?

[Spartan2]

Is "defense" in this context limited to just weapons, or will it also encompass measures that actually allow the country to mount an effective defense over the duration of a protracted conflict?

Here are Singapore's "5 pillars": http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=2083.0

"War" is not only about weapons. Warfare comes in many forms.

Will "legislative work" be limited to pushing for a larger budget for defense, or include structural matters?

An example of the latter is one CRITICAL achievement in 2010 that made all the acquisitions from the Aquino administration onward possible. The formalization of the DND's IRR with regard to Multi-Year Obligational Authority.

http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=2876.0

The vast majority of fanbois don't understand how pivotal that development was.

How are geopolitical considerations factored in?

Perhaps all of these and more can be discussed here

[Spartan2]

https://www.rappler.com/nation/lacson-china-military-plane-landing-philippines-colony

In pushing his point, Sotto said the Philippines became a target of the United States' enemies during World War II.

"Kakafriend natin sa US kaya naging target tayo ng Japan sa Second World War. Same day na binomba Pearl Harbor, binomba tayo ng Hapon sa Baguio at Clark. Almost one million died in that war. Sa bakuran natin sila nag-away," the Senate president said.

(Because of our friendship with the US, we became a target of Japan during the Second World War. The same day Pearl Harbor was bombed, the Japanese bombed Baguio and Clark. Almost one million died in that war. They fought in our own land.)

I wonder why so many politicians buy into this notion that Japan would have left us alone if we were not allied with the US.

Historically speaking its not true, Japan invaded all of East Asia regardless of their political allegiance with the US.

[Spartan2]

For context this is regarding ths issues in the West Philippine sea.

"Pero 'yung sa akin kasi personal: Sana all! Sana 'yung gobyerno din natin willing din na magpakita ng konting tapang regarding the issue. Kasi talagang habang umaatras tayo, lalo lang tayong didiinan. 'Pag interes na ng sariling bansa natin, sana pumalag tayo," added the Vice President.

(But for me, this is a personal issue: I wish our government would do the same thing for us. I wish our government is also willing to show bravery regarding this issue. Because the more that we back down, the more that we will be bullied. When it comes to the interests of our own country, we should fight back.)

https://www.rappler.com/nation/robredo-hits-china-rare-video-rebuttal-west-philippine-sea

[adroth]

For context this is regarding ths issues in the West Philippine sea.

"Pero 'yung sa akin kasi personal: Sana all! Sana 'yung gobyerno din natin willing din na magpakita ng konting tapang regarding the issue. Kasi talagang habang umaatras tayo, lalo lang tayong didiinan. 'Pag interes na ng sariling bansa natin, sana pumalag tayo," added the Vice President.

(But for me, this is a personal issue: I wish our government would do the same thing for us. I wish our government is also willing to show bravery regarding this issue. Because the more that we back down, the more that we will be bullied. When it comes to the interests of our own country, we should fight back.)

https://www.rappler.com/nation/robredo-hits-china-rare-video-rebuttal-west-philippine-sea

You may want to read this

http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=3740.0

China is an enemy that must be fought. But we must know HOW to fight the kleptomaniac dragon.

[Spartan2]

"I will sell [the oil] and build [the capabilities of the] Navy, the Coast Guard," he said.
"I will continue to build medium-range, medium-sized Navy, Coast Guard [assets] so we can protect whatever is left [of the West Philippine Sea]," he said.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/13/21/sell-and-build-isko-open-to-joint-oil-projects-with-china

[Spartan2]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.abs-cbn.com/amp/news/10/14/21/lacson-to-tap-ph-allies-vs-china-in-west-ph-sea

One approach here should be maintaining the balance of power because we have a small country whose military is weak.)

"So dapat umasa tayo dun sa ibang bansa, malalakas militarily na may capability. 'Yung kanilang military capability pwedeng mag-match dun sa nangaagaw," he said.

(We should rely on other countries who have stronger military capability. Their military capability can match the power of those trying to grab our territory.)


If he wins the presidential race, Lacson said he would also use the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) to revive the country’s strong ties with its traditional ally, the United States.

"Para naman maipakita na hindi tayo push over lamang at mayroong mga bansa na malalaki at malalakas na willing tumulong sa atin," he said.

(We have to show that we are not push overs and that there are bigger and stronger countries who are willing to help us.)

On one hand, its good that he knows we're weak and that we need allies. But o  the other, he made no mention of modernizing our own capabilities

[adroth]

On one hand, its good that he knows we're weak and that we need allies. But o  the other, he made no mention of modernizing our own capabilities

There lies the crux of the problem.

Allies are only willing to help if we are able to show our willingness to fund our own modernization and have the means to participate as an equal partner. Otherwise, the PH will be viewed as a liability.

You can't effectively fund modernization if you don't have the economy to SUSTAIN the program. Defense of the republic actually means ensuring that it is a productive and fully functional republic.

[Spartan2]

Agree sir

Another politician that is very vocal on modernization efforts is seeking reelection

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mb.com.ph/2021/01/20/zubiri-pushes-for-paf-modernization-following-military-chopper-crash-that-killed-7/%3famp

Zubiri pushes for PAF modernization following military chopper crash that killed 7

Note this is not the 1st time he pushed for this I tried to find the bill he wrote that would benefit local defense contractors. Couldn't find it.

[adroth]

Zubiri isn't the only one actually. There have been many in the past, especially those who came from the military.

There have even been legislators who took this cause up:

http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=20.0

[Spartan2]

Turns out BBM is the vice chairman of the AFP modernization fund
http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/bmarcos_resume.asp

Is there any details on how he handled the job. My last post on him may have unfairly put him in a bad light, implying that he was unsupportive of modernization efforts. I'd like to know if he was or was he not supportive of this law