Leaders best equipped to face China challenge

AS A senior citizen looking over the brink, I am concerned about the situation our country is in today. Events beyond our control have developed in our part of the world, putting at risk our very existence as a nation.

As I write, newspaper reports indicate the very real risk of confrontation between the naval forces of China and the United States in the West Philippine Sea over which China has claimed sovereignty. Apparently to contest that claim the United States has announced its intention to send warships to those waters.

Caught in the midst of it all is the Philippines, which is preparing for its national elections in 2016, where the sitting president, in his last few days in office, or his successor, the new president, will have to confront the problem of surviving the developing risky situation. There is nothing we can do about it now but hope for the best. That is why we must choose as our next president and vice president people who have the wisdom, experience and the guts to stand up to the challenge that may face the nation.
Among those who have registered their intention to run for president and vice president, I believe Miriam Defensor Santiago and Antonio Trillanes IV are the most appropriate leaders that we should have at this time of our history. There is no question about their combined wisdom, experience and guts. And they have no baggage, I believe, that could hamper their presidency and vice presidency. Neither could they twerk in their position.

In the event of a shooting war involving us, I would be comfortable if Santiago and Trillanes would be in command.

AMADO F. CABAERO SR., [email protected]