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Ni ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II
NANINIWALA ang ilang ranking officials ng ang paglagda sa Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Japan ay lalong nagpapatibay sa naunang trilateral agreements ng dalawang bansa kasama ang Estados Unidos ngayong taon.
Kasabay nito, kapwa sinegundahan nina Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. ng Pampanga; Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez ng Quezon; at House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe ng Zamboanga City ang naunang pahayag ni Speaker Martin Romualdez na magreresulta ang RAA sa bagong yugto ng pinalakas na ugnayan sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Japan.
Kamakailan ay bumisita si Speaker Romualdez sa Japan kung saan nakaharap nito ang kaniyang Japanese counterpart upang lalo pang mapaigting ang bilateral cooperation ng dalawang bansa.
“I am very pleased with the signing of the RAA between the Philippines and Japan as it marks a very important milestone in our bilateral relations. This agreement, which facilitates the seamless entry and stationing of military forces in each other’s territories, will undoubtedly enhance our defense and security cooperation,” sabi ni Gonzales.
“It builds upon the success of the trilateral agreement among the United States, the Philippines and Japan. This trilateral framework has already established a robust foundation for regional security and cooperation, addressing shared challenges and promoting stability in the Asia-Pacific region,” dagdag niya.
Para kay Suarez ang pinalakas na defense cooperation ng Pilipinas at Japan ay mahalaga sa pagpapanatili ng katatagan sa rehiyon.
“As we face evolving security threats, this agreement provides a framework for coordinated action, ensuring that our forces can operate seamlessly together. This is a significant step towards a more secure and resilient Asia-Pacific region,” paliwanag ng kongresista.
“The RAA is a reflection of our enduring partnership and our shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous future. It is a clear demonstration of our commitment to safeguarding our sovereignty and protecting the well-being of our people,” sabi pa niya.
Ayon naman kay Dalipe, pinagtibay ng RAA ang relasyon ng bansa sa Japan, na pagpapakita ng pagsusulong ng Pilipinas sa kapayapaan at seguridad.
“Our engagement with Japan has always been fruitful. Just recently, Speaker Romualdez had the privilege of meeting with his counterpart in the Japanese House of Representatives, where they discussed various avenues for strengthening our bilateral ties,” punto ni Dalipe.
“The signing of the RAA is proof to the productive outcomes of such high-level engagements, underscoring the importance of our strategic partnership,” dagdag pa niya.
“By facilitating joint training, logistical support and disaster response, the RAA ensures that both our nations are better prepared to address emerging security challenges and humanitarian crises,” pagtatapos ng Zamboanga City lawmaker.
