Senator Richard Gordon on Tuesday noted that unless the Philippines showed readiness to help itself by investing in building up a credible defense capability, nobody will help it in connection with the South China Sea dispute. Gordon reiterated his call for substantive increases in the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines because undermining the country’s defense capacity could not continue. He said the government could make all its allies near and far realize that by investing in the country’s defense forces with the modicum of credible equipage the Philippines would be showing its preparedness to fulfill the Constitution’s mandate.

Ramos-Araneta, M. (2018, July 4). Gordon wants strong PH capability in sea dispute. Manila Standard, p. A6.