Aquino says US, Japan use of PHL military facilities a 'natural circumstance"

"Yung access i-klaro natin -- hindi naman sila magiging permanent doon sa mga bases pero allies natin. There are only two strategic partners that we have, it is America and Japan (Let me clarify that granting them access does not mean they will be permanent in our bases)," the President said at the sidelines after the distribution of Glock 17 pistols to the Philippine National Police (PNP) held at its Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

"Kung hindi tayo makikipag-ugnayan sa kanila at mag-aayos ng mga sistema kung sakaling may gulo na, palagay ko maling paghahanda ‘yon. So kailangan nila ng may knowledge na rin ‘nung ating terrain, kailangan rin naman natin ‘yung inter-operability with them (If we do not widen our cooperation with them, and if we do not come up with a system to respond to possible conflicts, I think that is the wrong way to prepare because that is not preparing at all. They should have knowledge of our terrain and we should have inter-operability with them)," he said.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin earlier said the government is drafting an agreement that will provide the United States greater access to the country’s bases.

He, however, clarified that there is no plan for the US troops to establish bases in the country since the Philippine Constitution prohibits it.

The proposed access agreement is reportedly one of the modalities being discussed for increased rotational presence of US forces in the region.

Meanwhile, President Aquino has ruled out going to war with Chinaover the unresolved territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

"Nasa Constitution ho, we renounce war as policy -- bawal," he said.

The President said the government will pursue peaceful means to resolve the sea dispute instead of resorting to violence that will only affect the peace and stability in the region.

"'Yung parati nating sinasabi kailangan ng hinahon, kailangan ng matinong pag-uusap, para dumating tayo sa isang solusyon na katanggap-tanggap sa lahat ng panig (We have always appealed for calm and sensible dialogue to attain a solution that will be acceptable to all parties)," he said.

President Aquino said the Philippineshas already lodged its complaint against China’s incursions into its territory before an arbitration tribunal as one of the rights of any country to protect its sovereignty.

"Pipilitin natin na hindi tayo hahantong sa kung ano mang kaguluhan dahil parang baligtad nga ‘yon sa pakay natin na magkaroon ng katahimikan, estabilidad, at pagkakataon na umunlad lahat ng nasasangkot dito sa pagtutunggali tungkol diyan sa mga territorial disputes (We will try to avoid violence because this is against our goal to achieve peace, stability and prosperity for the parties involved in the territorial disputes)," he said.