Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Tuesday urged the federal government to start its exploration of Reed Bank within the West Philippine Sea.
When requested if he has a message to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Carpio stated the nation has “no choice but to get gas in Reed Bank.”
“Because our economy will suffer tremendously. Malampaya supplies 40% of the energy requirement of the zone,” he instructed ANC.
According to Carpio, China’s water cannon assault within the course of a Philippine vessel final week is a “threat” to discourage the nation from sending survey ships to Reed Bank.
The Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) illegally used water cannons in opposition to Philippine Coast Guard vessels going to the Ayungin Shoal on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.
“I think that is connected. For me, it’s very clear that they’re flexing their muscle now to intimidate us not to send our survey and drilling ship to Reed Bank,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Carpio stated that with out the Malampaya fuel discipline and with out Reed Bank, the nation must import liquified pure fuel (LNG), saying that doing so could be “very expensive.”
“I estimate our energy cost in Luzon will go up by 50% and that will be devastating for everybody. That will fuel inflation tremendously and the people, the consumers, will suffer,” Carpio stated.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
