Eleazar felt insulted on Chinese challenges when visiting Pag-asa Island

FILE PHOTO Retired PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar.

MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police chief and senatorial aspirant General Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday said that he felt insulted for being prevented from roaming around the country’s territory due to challenges of the Chinese military.

Guillermo was part of presidential aspirant Panfilo Lacson’s team who was challenged by the Chinese military when they visited the Pag-asa Island on Saturday.

Lacson’s team visited the island for a consultation with local residents and fisherfolk and a meeting with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command amid recent tension with China in the West Philippine Sea.

“It was a memorable experience, seeing the beauty of the country from the top pati na rin ‘yung makita ang ating (and to see our) rich resources,” he recalled on ANC’s Headstart.

“But along the way, our pilot was challenged by Chinese military… Personally, I feel insulted na (that) you are being prevented from roaming around doon sa iyong (in your) territory at doon natin makikita ngayon kung ano ang ating sitwasyon (and from there, we saw our situation),” he added.

According to Eleazar, a notification popped on his phone, welcoming him to China, then the Philippines, and Vietnam.

After the visit, Eleazar observed a need to change the situation wherein Filipinos themselves are being prevented within its territory.

“In my experience talking to the people there, we can see ‘yung (the) spark [of] nationalism and patriotism coming from them at nakita natin kung papaano ‘yung kanilang sitwasyon doon (and we saw their situation there),” he said.

“Hearing stories from our personnel there, military and the PNP, nakita natin na talagang dapat na mabago itong sitwasyon na kung saan tayo mismo na pag-aari natin are being prevented to access on that particular territory,” the general went on.

(Hearing stories from our personnel there, military and the PNP, we saw that the situation should be changed wherein we are being prevented from accessing that particular territory which is ours.)

For Eleazar, the military force that is guarding the country’s territory as well as the facilities should be strengthened.

“In terms of military presence, talagang kailangan na we should strengthen our force there. Hindi naman kailangan ‘yung presence natin do’n is kailangan tapatan natin ‘yung lakas ng China or other countries,” he explained.

(In terms of military presence, we really need to strengthen our force there. We do not need our presence to be the same as China’s strength or other countries.)

Echoing Lacson, Eleazar said that there should be a balance of power.

“Of course, just what like Senator Ping Lacson has said, ‘yung (the) balance of power ang kailangan natin dito (is what we need),” he said.

“We can avail of the consensus with other countries na (that) we can say na pwede tayong proteksyunan (can protect us),” Eleazar noted.

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JPV