MALACAÑANG on Tuesday said President Aquino does not yet see the need to convene the National Security Council amid increasingly aggressive Chinese reclamation projects in the West Philippine Sea.
“In the President’s view, at this time, none,” Palace Deputy Spokesman Abigail Valte said.
She, however, indicated that the matter is already being handled by a Cabinet security cluster which includes the heads of the Department of Defense and the Armed Forces, among others.
“We have dealt with other national security-related issues as well as other matters, through the mechanism of the security cluster,” Valte said.
“And allow me to say that you may be used to the usual members of the security cluster but from time to time, relevant agencies are asked to go or asked to participate whenever there are matters that fall under that department’s competence.”
Valte added: “And it is also in this venue wherein the security cluster and other members of the Cabinet discuss matters relative to the West Philippine Sea issue.”
Earlier, fishermen from Zambales reported that they were assaulted with water cannons by Chinese coast guard personnel, when they tried to fish at the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
Butch Fernandez