Partido Reporma standard-bearer, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, on Thursday said the government should focus more on security threats in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) with the steady reduction of the local communist and terrorist rebels.

“Kasi lumiliit na o nababawasan na ‘yung threat galing sa insurgency, sabihin natin sa mga NPA (New People’s Army), ano. Maraming lugar sa Pilipinas na-lessen na, hindi tulad noong araw, ‘di ba? (The threat from insurgency, let’s say from the NPA, is getting smaller or being reduced. More areas in the Philippines have their (insurgency) problems lessened, not like back in the day),” he said in a statement.

With the internal threats posed by communist rebels now reduced, Lacson said there is now a need to enhance the technical ability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Lacson, also chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation, said the Philippine Navy could also use more modern arms, equipment, and ships to patrol the seas, especially the country’s territories in the WPS that are being claimed by China.

Lacson previously said he is open to a joint venture with other countries to explore the energy resources such as oil and natural gas in the WPS.

He said the country is not limited to just having a dialogue with China on the matter, as many other nations are interested to help the Philippines on this.

Lacson also insisted that the country assert its rights in the WPS by enhancing its presence in the contested region, initially by sending more people like research teams and scientists to Pagasa Island, which Lacson and Partido Reporma officials visited last November.

The government should also improve its facilities in its WPS outposts such as Pagasa to improve the country’s surveillance and security of our territories there, he added. (PNA)