BINANATAN ni Davao City Rep. Paolo “Polong” Duterte si AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. sa pahayag nito na kayang umabot sa China ang US-made Typhon missile system na nakadeploy sa Pilipinas.

“So is this now our idea of defense? Showing off for America even if it’s clear that Filipinos will be the first to burn from another nation’s retaliation?” patutsada ni Duterte.

Ayon kay Brawner, may kakayahan ang US Mid-Range Capability missile system na umabot hanggang mainland China. Ngunit para kay Duterte, hindi ito garantiya ng seguridad kundi ng panganib.

“Are you willing to gamble Filipino lives just to show how close you are to your bosses? Who are you really serving — the Philippines or the CIA?” dagdag pa ni Duterte.

Binanatan din ng kongresista ang umano’y maling prayoridad ng AFP, na aniya’y mas abala sa pagpapakitang-gilas sa Amerika kaysa sa pagprotekta sa mga Pilipino laban sa katiwalian sa gobyerno.

“Chinese generals caught stealing end up in a firing squad. Here in the Philippines? They get promotions and press briefings as a reward?” ani Duterte, na tila nagpayo kay Brawner: “Get your priorities straight, General. The Filipino people don’t need someone who’s trigger-happy for another country. They need a leader who will fight for them, not offer them as targets.”

Paalala pa ni Duterte, hindi kailangan ng bansa ng “missiles with someone else’s fingerprints.”

“We want peace, security, and sovereignty — not to be dragged into someone else’s war,” pagtatapos niya.

(BERNARD TAGUINOD)