00:00Meanwhile, the Secretary of National Defense remains skeptical of China's willingness to give its stamp of approval that will pave the way for a nuclear-weapon-free region.
00:09Our Patrick De Jesus has the full details.
00:12To see is to believe. This was the response of Defense Secretary Gibbo Teodoro on China's supposed willingness to be among the signatories of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty.
00:25The Chinese Foreign Ministry also stated they themselves would take the lead in signing the protocol of the set agreement on the non-use of nuclear weapons in Southeast Asia and would coordinate with ASEAN countries accordingly.
00:40But Teodoro responded, China still has a lot to prove being one of the countries with a nuclear arsenal.
00:48Magpa-inspeksyon sila sa IAEA at multinational inspectors para makita natin kung talagang sincero sila.
00:59E paano sila mag-take the lead? Tignan muna natin. Magpa-inspeksyon muna sila. To see is to believe.
01:06The Secretary added, there is a huge trust deficit toward China due to its repeated acts of harassment in the West Philippine Sea.
01:15Ito ang mga inisyatibo nila na willing to take the lead, baging mediator, pakitang tao lang ito kung wala silang good faith na ipapakita.
01:28Kasi sa ngayon, malaki ang deficit of trust and credibility nila. Malaki ang pagkukulang ng tiwala sa kanila.
01:37Hindi lamang ng Pilipino kung hindi sa buong mundo.
01:40Globally, the five recognized nuclear weapon states include Russia, the United States, China, France, and the United Kingdom, although there are other countries said to possess similar capabilities.
01:54Meanwhile, although it is within China's rights to impose a ban on former Senator Francis Torrentino, Teodoro asserted that he did nothing wrong in advocating for the country's rights and sovereignty.
02:08He also said he wouldn't care if China imposed the same kind of sanction on him next.
02:15Ibig sabihin may tinatago talaga sila, nasaktan sila, dahil natumbok ang mga maling gawain nila.
02:21Mabuti nga kung sakasakali, assuming, pupunta si Senator Torrentino doon, nasa tamang paraan.
02:28Hindi katulad nila na maraming undocumented dito at tayo, marami tayong na-uncover na mga iligal na practice nila.
02:39Tolentino is the author of the laws that established the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.
02:48He also revealed during a Senate hearing that China's embassy allegedly used trolls for a disinformation campaign against the Philippines.
02:57The former senator had earlier said that being banned by China is a badge of honor to him and that he will continue to stand firm in defending the country's interests.
03:09Patrick De Azuz from the National TV for a New and Better Philippines.
