By Billy Begas
Incoming National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director General Ricardo de Leon on Thursday underscored the need to give more focus to the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a television interview, De Leon was asked about allotting more resources to gather real-time information on what’s happening on the WPS and avoid being surprised by the presence of a lot of Chinese vessels in the area.
“I really agree that we have to give also focus on the West Philippine Sea kasi any development with our neighbor especially in that area would certainly affect domestic security,” de Leon said.
De Leon said, “we have to view everything and integrate, harmonize our efforts.”
“We cannot just isolate ourselves and say bahala na diyan sa ano. That’s the reason why when I assume…. we mainstream domestic security so that we can take care of our own homeland and at the same time may outward looking tayo naman,” De Leon added.
De Leon said modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be needed to improve the country’s intelligence capabilities.
“I am certain that our President-elect Bongbong Marcos will sustain all of these efforts (AFP modernization) and looking at our own yung national interest nga natin as a priority,” he said.
