MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon on Thursday suggested that officials from the foreign affairs and national defense departments brief Senate on issues concerning the country’s foreign policy and national security.
Speaking at a weekly press forum at the Senate in Pasay City, Gordon said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of National Defense (DND) should “regularly” provide an “advanced briefing on what’s happening.”
“I think the Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Teodoro Locsin Jr.) should immediately brief Congress about it. Maybe there should be a select committee in the Senate. They can be given information that is vital to the national interest, so when they talk, they talk with authority or they know what to do,” Gordon said.
“Even the defense department should do that,” he added.
The senator said these briefings with the DFA and the DND may be conducted at the beginning of the 18th Congress in July.
“Especially the new senators. Dapat nabi-brief na sila diyan ano ba ang mga special thrust ng foreign policy. Ano ba ang magiging reaksyon,” he said.
“When there are crisis, dapat kagad masabihan tayo. Kasi pag hindi nasasabihan, kung anu-ano sasabihin eh,” he added, referring to the statements separately released by Cabinet secretaries following the reported ramming of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel in the West Philippine Sea last June 9.
“It couldn’t be any harm if you have a first review for the year,” Gordon further said.
Gordon said he would reiterate this suggestion to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
“I’m openly suggesting to Senator Sotto that we call the foreign affairs department as well as the defense department to give us an advanced briefing on what’s happening and regulalry,” he said.
“Kahit na select committee within the Senate,” he added. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)