PREPARE FOR ALL POSSIBILITIES ON THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA DISPUTE - GORDON

With the West Philippine Sea being an area of contention, Senator Richard J. Gordon said the country should be prepared for all possibilities that may develop.

And for that, he pointed out, there is a need for the National Security Council to meet regularly and assess the possibilities, along with a think-tank composed of experts on foreign policy and defense.

"We have to think of all the possibilities in a situation where there is always claims and counter-claims. All these scenarios must be assessed by the National Security Council and a think-tank composed of experts on foreign policy and defense," Gordon said.

"Alam naman natin na there is always contention in that area, kaya dapat nakahanda tayo kung ano ang mangyayari diyan," he added.

Gordon's pronouncement was prompted by the incident last June 9 wherein a Chinese fishing vessel abandoned the crew of a Filipino fishing boat that sank after it was rammed by their vessel near Recto Bank.

He also suggested earlier that the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Department of National Defense should be the ones to give statements on the incident to prevent President Rodrigo Duterte from being painted into a corner.