De Lima urges Duterte to immediately convene NSC

Sen. Leila de Lima is calling for the immediate convening of the National Security Council (NSC) to determine the country’s course of action in the West Philippine Sea.

The opposition senator filed Senate Resolution No. 744, urging President Duterte to convene the NSC as soon as possible.

“Inaction or soft diplomatic actions are no longer options as the military activities of China [in the] West Philippine Sea have placed the whole country under perpetual threat,” she warned.

“The President should be presented all possible actions, including forceful diplomacy and close collaboration with allies … ”

The NSC is the country’s principal advisory body on national security. —JULIE M. AURELIO