Senator Richard Gordon on Sunday urged the Duterte administration to beef up the country’s military capability so that China and other nations won’t look down on the Philippines as a pushover. Meantime, the Philippine government does not agree with the recent statement of the Chinese government that it is allowing Filipino fishermen to fish in Scarborough Shoal area as a gestire of goodwill. Gordon said the government must seriously make every effort to improve the country’s defense and security assets to convey the message that the Philippines, too, is a force to reckon with. “They can easily intimidate us knowing we have nothing to prove. I suggest that we should have some kind or level of deterrence. Let us show that we also can stand up against anything,” Gordon said in a radio interview, reiterating the need to beef up the country’s armed forces.

Torregoza, H. L., & Mabasa, R. C. (2018, June 18). Stronger PH military pressed amid sea dispute. Manila Bulletin, p. 2.