Lawmaker bats for more defense spending

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Manuel Cabochan III of Magdalo party list has filed a resolution to raise the country’s defense spending to 2 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to be at parwith its Asian neighbors.

“The Philippines’ defense spending is low by regional standards,” Cabochan said, adding that the country has to increase its defense budget from the average 1.1 percent of its GDP to cope with increased security threats, including terrorism. —DJ Yap